Accounts clerk squanders drivers' 240 million cedis

Cape Coast (Central Region) - A recent audit by the Auditor-General's Department into the accounts of the Cape Coast Division of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), has revealed an embezzlement of over ?240 million.

The officer at the centre of the embezzlement, Mr Harry Kotei, an Accounts Clerk, was cited for fraudulently misappropriating the monies. He was at that position form 1996 until October 2001 when the audit exercise commenced.

Currently, the issue is being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Cape Coast Police to ascertain the level of the embezzlement and the possibility of other collaborators involved in the case. The suspect's salary has been suspended while he is on interdiction.

The audit exercise was directed at all the DVLA offices nationwide to look into the activities of the DVLA. Further investigations have revealed the destruction of several receipt books that may facilitate the audit exercise.

A source close to the investigators hinted "The Evening News" that although only two years of Mr Kotei's stewardship has been scrutinized, the possibility of several instances dating back to the period he assumed office exists and is yet to be unravelled. It was also learnt that the Cape Cost CID has impounded two taxis of Kotei pending conclusion into the investigations. Another of his vehicles, a private saloon, car is being sought for by the police.

When contacted, the Chief Executive of DVLA, Mr J.M.Y. Amegashie, confirmed the story but said investigations are-on- going to determine how he managed to squander those monies. He, however, declined to give the exact amount Mr Kotei has allegedly embezzled saying this kind of information would jeopardize the ongoing investigations.

Mr Amegashie explained that there is the need for them to know whether, Mr Kotei single handedly embezzled those monies or did so with a "syndicate." The Chief Executive said he has no intention to shield any one, but would not comment on issues that would jeopardize the ongoing investigations.