A Nigerian man, already in trouble with the law after being accused of marrying three Jamaican women last year, was arrested by police in connection with a visa scam recently.

Police told THE STAR that between January 5, and February 22, 2010, Shadrach Ifeanyi Momah, operating under the name Dick Motsewetsho, is accused of collecting $60,000 from a woman as payment for a 10-year visitor's visa to the United States.

However, after delays and the failure of the accused to hand over the visa or return the money, the woman reported the matter to the police. Momah was arrested at his Ripon Road, Kingston 5, business place. He was held with a Jamaican driver's licence in the name Dick Motsewetsho.

changed name

Reports further revealed that the accused did a deed pole in 2008 at the Lagos State High Court in Nigeria, changing his name from Dick Motsewetsho to Ifeanyi Momah and he used the Jamaican driver's licence, which he had in the name Dick Motsewetsho, to collect a part of the 'visa payment' through Western Union. The other sum of money was deposited to his Scotiabank business account.

Subsequent to his arrest, the accused was charged with obtaining money by means of false pretence and conspiracy to deceive. He is also charged with possession of forged documents after checks with the authorities showed that the Inland Revenue Department did not issue the drivers' licence the accused had in the name Dick Motsewetsho.

The accused is to stand trial in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on March 16, at which time his ongoing bigamy case will also be revisited.

In that matter, which started early last year, Momah was arrested during an operation carried out by Fraud Squad detectives and officers from the Immigration Department.

During a raid on a Ripon Road-based office occupied by Momah, the authorities discovered documents which revealed that he had married three Jamaican women between July and December 2009.

The police is requesting that anyone who may have been defrauded by this man to visit or contact the Half-Way Tree CIB at 926-2551. Reports state that the accused man also goes by the name 'Simon'.