Businessman in court over defrauding Finnish retiree of GH¢204,115 

A businessman is accused of defrauding a retiree from Finland. He allegedly took GH¢204,115.21 from her. The case is being heard in an Accra Circuit Court.

Raymond Ofomala, 36, posed as a lawyer and prosecutor. He claimed he could recover the retiree’s money lost to a romance scam. Instead, he defrauded her.

Ofomala faces charges of defrauding by false pretences and obtaining an electronic payment medium falsely. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Judge Isaac Addo granted him bail at GH¢250,000 with two sureties. He must also deposit his passport at the court registry. Ofomala will return to court on May 20, 2025.

Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer informed the court about the complainant, Marianne Kertain Elisabet Westerholm. She lost $102,500 to a romance scam between 2019 and 2022.

In March 2024, Ofomala emailed her under the name Frank Owusu. He claimed that some Ghanaians and Nigerians had been arrested for online fraud against elderly women.

He mentioned Eric Yaw Nartey as one of the suspects who defrauded her using the alias Albert Lambert. Ofomala called himself “the State prosecutor” and assured Westerholm he would help recover her money.

Convinced by his claims, she provided him with requested details. Chief Inspector Lawer said Ofomala then demanded money for the reimbursement process.

Between July 30 and August 22, 2024, he collected GH¢204,115.24 through two personal MTN mobile money accounts and an MTN merchant number. His repeated demands raised suspicions in Westerholm.

She eventually stopped responding and reported him to the police. During interrogation, Ofomala admitted his crime and mentioned his Nigerian associate named Godwin.

Investigations revealed that Godwin had previously defrauded Westerholm using the alias Albert Lambert as well. He posed as a doctor on a special mission in Yemen and took $102,500 from her through romance scams.

The prosecution stated that police seized a Toyota Vitz with registration number GS 743-22. They suspect it was bought with proceeds from this crime.