Aflao based Pastor on trial for fraud deserted by sureties and Counsel

Aflao, Jan.16, GNA - Emmanuel Amegashitsi, 35, a pastor of the Aflao based Faith Revelation Church who promised to marry a woman and took 5,000 Ghana cedis from her for their wedding but jilted her for being obese has been thrown back into police custody.

His two sureties deserted him in court on Friday because he failed to duly inform them when he changed residence.

He was recently excommunicated and sacked from the Church’s residence.

Amegashitsi’s defence counsel also withdrew his services to him on grounds of conflict of interest on realizing that the complainant is his (Counsel’s) niece.

His 6,000.00 Ghana cedis bail bond still stands but must look for new sureties.

Amegashitsi, who pleaded not guilty, would be brought back to court on January 17.

Sergeant Michael Akemo told the court that the complainant Ms. Dzifa Amegashi, 31, is a caterer who worshipped in Amegashitsi’s church.

He said Ms. Amegashi had confided in the pastor that she wanted a virtuous and God fearing man for a husband and he told her he was also looking for a woman to marry.

The Prosecutor said Amegashitsi and Ms Amegashi therefore entered into a love relationship.

Mr Akemo said Amegashitsi told Ms Amegashi that he needed a loan of Ghc 5,000 to put their marriage plan in motion and pleaded with her to contact her mother for help.

He said Ms Amegashi’s mother had received payment for a house she sold and Ms Amegashi convinced her mother to give her the amount which she in turn gave to Amegashitsi in her mother’s presence and was issued with a receipt.

Sgt Akemo told the court that on January 7, Ms Amegashi visited Amegasitsi with a view to passing the night with him as part of his birthday celebration but her request was turned down by Amegashitsi who told her that he had fallen out of love with her because she was too fat for his liking.

Mr Akemo said Amegashitsi drove Ms Amegashi out of his room and returned her birthday gifts to him on the third day.

Ms Amegashi demanded her five Ghc 5,000 but Amegashitsi told her that there was no such transaction between them and challenged her to go to court.

Mr Akemo said police investigations established that Amegashitsi acquired two motorbikes from that Ghc 5,000 which were being used to commute passengers.