A Cape Coast Circuit Court has remanded Patrick Nii Torto into police custody following allegations of defrauding individuals under the pretense of securing Canadian visas and work permits. The accused reportedly impersonated a Vice Presidential staffer and a captain in the Ghana Armed Forces to carry out his fraudulent activities.
Torto, who allegedly operated under the alias "Dr. Patrick Nelson Ayittey," is accused of deceiving his victims by claiming affiliations with the Canadian Embassy in Ghana. According to police reports presented to the court, Torto swindled two individuals out of sums amounting to GHS5,325 and GHS8,200, respectively.
The accused pleaded not guilty to charges of defrauding by false pretenses. However, the presiding judge, Madam Nana Aba Quiaba Nunoo, ordered that Torto be remanded into custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
Police investigations revealed that Torto's fraudulent activities occurred between December 2025 and January 2026. Despite repeated demands from his victims, he failed to refund the monies he had collected under false pretenses.
The accused was apprehended at his hideout in Abura by Cape Coast police on Monday, February 16, following a complaint lodged at the Abura Police Station. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered ten Ghanaian passports and various documents, including school certificates, birth certificates, and Ghana Cards.
Further inquiries confirmed that Torto was neither an officer in the Ghana Armed Forces nor an employee of the Vice President’s Office. Additionally, it was revealed that he had no ties to the Canadian Embassy and was not a medical doctor or a holder of a doctorate degree, contrary to his claims.
The court has scheduled Torto’s next appearance for Tuesday, March 3, 2026, as investigations continue into the allegations against him.
-By Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
