A 36-year-old Ghanaian businessman, Raymond Ofomala, has been accused of posing as a lawyer and prosecutor to defraud a Finnish retiree, Marianne Kertain Elisabet Westerholm, of approximately $204,115 (GHC204,115). According to reports, Ofomala allegedly contacted Westerholm, claiming he could recover her losses from a previous romance scam.
Alleged Scam Details
– Previous Scam: Westerholm had lost $102,500 to a romance scam between 2019 and 2022, perpetrated by an individual using the alias Albert Lambert, who posed as a doctor on a special mission in Yemen.
– False Representation: Ofomala allegedly posed as “the State prosecutor” and claimed to be working on confiscating the assets of the scammer, Eric Yaw Nartey, to reimburse Westerholm.
– Demands for Money: Ofomala demanded money from Westerholm to facilitate the reimbursement process, collecting GHC204,115.24 through two personal MTN mobile money accounts and an MTN merchant number between July 30 and August 22, 2024.
Court Proceedings
– Charges: Ofomala has been charged with defrauding by false pretenses and obtaining an electronic payment medium falsely.
– Plea: He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
– Bail: The Accra Circuit Court granted him bail at GHC250,000 with two sureties and ordered him to deposit his passport at the court registry.
– Next Hearing: The case is scheduled for further proceedings on May 20, 2025.
Investigation and Assets
– Assets Seized: The police impounded a Toyota Vitz with registration number GS 743-22, suspected to have been acquired with proceeds from the crime.
– Associate: Ofomala claimed his Nigerian associate, Godwin, introduced him to Westerholm and orchestrated the scheme. Godwin is believed to be the original perpetrator of the romance scam against Westerholm.