Samuel Inkoom, a former Ghana Black Stars footballer, has been granted bail of GHC100,000.00 with two sureties after being charged with visa fraud. The Adentan Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Susana Eduful, stipulated that each surety must earn at least GHC5,000.00, and Inkoom is required to deposit his passport photograph with the Court’s Registry.
The footballer is accused of defrauding two individuals of a total of $6,000 under the pretext of securing U.S. visas. Inkoom, however, has denied the allegations. The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 22, 2025.
According to Police Chief Inspector Tetteh Boafo, the case stems from two complaints: Madam Elizabeth Atarime Mboh Awuni, an entrepreneur, and Madam Abigail Owusu, a public servant, both residents of Oyarifa, Accra. The accused, residing in Sekondi-Takoradi, allegedly misrepresented his capabilities during separate encounters in December 2023.
Awuni reportedly met Inkoom during a scouting event for young footballers at Achimota, where he claimed to be involved in travel and tour services. Inkoom assured Awuni that he could secure U.S. and Canadian visas within six weeks for a fee of $4,000. Convinced, she paid the amount for her client.
Similarly, Owusu met Inkoom and, based on his representations, paid $2,000 for a U.S. visa.
Despite assurances, Inkoom failed to deliver the promised visas within the agreed timeframe and went into hiding. The complainants, suspecting foul play, reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.
During investigations, Inkoom admitted to receiving the funds but claimed he had sent the money to a partner in the U.S. to facilitate the visa process. However, he failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate this claim, which was dismissed as false during the investigation.
Further inquiries revealed that Inkoom had no U.S.-based partner and had fabricated the story to defraud the victims. Police recovered $2,000 from Inkoom, which was returned to Awuni.
The prosecution, presenting its case, highlighted the accused’s failure to cooperate during the investigation and his attempt to evade responsibility. Based on the findings, Inkoom was arraigned and subsequently granted bail.
The court will reconvene on January 22, 2025, to further deliberate on the case. The proceedings have garnered public interest, given Inkoom’s high-profile status as a former national team player.
The case serves as a cautionary tale about fraudulent activities in visa acquisition and underscores the importance of verifying the credentials of individuals offering such services.
