Two accomplices whose names were given by the police as Kwabena Owusu and Juliet Maabena Peprah are currently on the run.
The victims had paid a total of GH¢304,020 to the head pastor and his accomplices, following an advertisement on the Internet that a company in the USA needed people for employment.
Advert on the Internet
The Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police ( DSP), Mr Freeman Tettey, said the victims had reported to the police that they had seen an advertisement on the Internet on May 5, 2014 in respect of job vacancies in the US.
Following the advertisement, they contacted the pastor, whose phone number was on the advert, and he directed them to his office at Dome.
He said the pastor asked them to pay GH¢28,000 each as processing fees and also buy visa forms from Ecobank.
However, the victims paid GH¢53,800, GH¢69,500, GH¢107,600, GH¢12,000, GH¢13,120 and GH¢48,000, as processing fees and other charges.
Pastor fails to answer calls
The victims said they were taken to the American Embassy in Accra where their fingerprints were taken.
According to the police, the victims were directed to pay the money into an account number which was in the name of Owusu.
Thereafter, they were assured that they would be travelling on a protocol arrangement.
On June 5, 2014, the pastor sent an electronic visa to the victims and told them to get ready to travel out of the country on June 13 and 15, 2014.
On the said date, the pastor failed to answer phone calls from the victims and went into hiding.
Police investigations led to his arrest in his hideout on Thursday, July 10, 2014.
Pastors..Pastors..Pastors in Ghana..One of the pastors arrested is my uncle..what a small world..