Michael Ayitey Okine, popularly known as Ayitey Powers, a boxer, was on Monday granted a bail of GH₵ 50,000.00 with two sureties, by an Accra Circuit Court for defrauding by false pretences.
Michael, who was said to have defrauded one Nana Yaw Oppong of GH₵ 6,500, and one Kofi Asante of GH₵ 7,500 pleaded not guilty to the charge and is to reappear on September 22.
Prosecuting, Police Detective Inspector Isaac Agbemehia told the court that the complainants reside in Kumasi, while the accused is a professional boxer who lives in Accra.
He said in November 2013, the accused who was supposed to fight in Australia took advantage of his boxing profession to acquire Australian Visa for some Ghanaians.
He said some Ghanaian residents in Australia heard of Michael’s arrangement and expressed interest and requested the accused to use the same means he adopted to get visa for those he travelled with for their relatives.
The prosecution told the court that the accused person demanded $ 8,000 from each of the complainant as processing fee. Nana Yaw made an initial deposit of GH₵ 6,500, while Kofi deposited GH₵ 7,500.
Detective Inspector Agbemehia said the accused person collected the passports of the complainants and started processing their documents.
He said although the complainants were not boxers, Michael managed to secure Ghanaian Boxers Identification cards, introduction letters from ACE Boxing promotion and other documents which he forwarded to the Australian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya for the visa application.
He told the court that the High Commission refused the complainants visa application and communicated the information to the accused person through email on February 12, 2014.
The prosecution said the complainants who were not satisfied with the outcome of the visa application contacted Michael for the refund of their money but he failed to do so, compelling them to report the matter to the police.
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