Princess Asi Ocansey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Channels of Blessing, a Christian Centered Training Institution, was yesterday arraigned before an Accra circuit court for trafficking one Eugenia Mensah Plange to the United States of America (USA) last year.
The accused person, who is also the CEO of SOS Labour and International Employment Agency in Tema, and doubles as a radio presenter at an Accra-based radio station, is facing charges of human trafficking, contrary to section 18 of the criminal offences act 1960 (Act29), and section 2(1) of the human trafficking act 2005 of act (694).
However, Mr. Yonny Kulendi, counsel for the accused person, vehemently rejected the allegations leveled against his client, claiming it was a total fabrication meant to scandalise her.
According to the counsel, there was no letter of July 12, 2012 from the US complaining about the alleged victim, and therefore, expressed his client’s readiness to defend herself before the court.
Naa Asie Ocansey pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against her, and was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢30,000 with two sureties by the court, presided over by Ms. Sedinam Agbemava. She is expected to re-appear before court on the May 28, 2013.
The accused person was granted bail, following the intervention of her counsel, who further pleaded with the court to grant his client enough time to enable her travel to the USA for the necessary documents relevant for the trial.
Briefing the court on the facts of the case, DSP Mary Agbozo noted that on November 2, 2012, the Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Head office received a letter from the American Embassy, prompting the police that the accused person, on July 12, 2012, fraudulently prepared and submitted a visa application form in respect of Eugenia Mensah Plange for the purpose of obtaining a visa.
The accused person was, therefore, invited to the Unit for interrogation. During the interrogation, she admitted knowing the said Eugenia Mensah Plange, and further added that she was part of a group that were recruited by her organisation to be processed for a programme in America, the prosecution told the court.
However, when te accused person was pressed upon to make available all documents in respect of the said Eugenia Mensah Plange, she failed to do so, DSP Agbozo said, adding that investigations further revealed that a series of announcements were made on Sunny FM, an Accra-based radio station, soliciting for prospective clients interested in travelling to the USA to work.
Prosecution further indicated that the accused person managed to falsify documents to indicate that the said Eugenia Mensah Plange was a social worker and staff of Nekotech, and succeeded in taking GH¢5,000 for the purpose of obtaining a USA visa to facilitate her movement to the USA.