Accra, Sept. 9, GNA - Bernard Ofori, a Banker of the Social Security Bank, who is standing trial at an Accra Circuit Court for siphoning 1.4 billion cedis from the Bank was on Tuesday granted 800 million cedis bail to reappear September 22.
Ofori, who is with the Information Technology Department of the Bank, has pleaded not guilty to forging documents and stealing. The Court chaired by Mr Willy Wise Kyeremeh ordered the accused to report twice in a week to the Police.
Granting the bail Mr Kyeremeh said he took into consideration the accused person's six vehicles currently in Police custody. He, however, advised the Defence not to ask for adjournment, saying, "I will not tolerate any adjournment, if you absent yourself from the Court the case will still go on".
He asked the Police to expedite in their investigations to ensure a speedy trial.
Earlier Defence Counsel, Mr Maurice K. Ampaw, repeated his application for bail since his client had appeared a number of times before the Court.
He told the court that his client had a fix place of abode; married with three children and would not abscond, saying that he would assist the Police in their investigations.
The facts as presented by Police Inspector Benette Sarfo, are that on August 26, SSB detected that payment vouchers had been manipulated and figures had been inflated in the credit balances of some customers and monies totalling 1.4 billion cedis had been stolen from the Bank. The Prosecution said the Bank also detected that Ofori connived with some customers of the Bank, who were yet to be apprehended, and manipulated the Bank's computer software.
The accused also changed figures on payment vouchers. Figures that read 300,000 cedis were changed to read 30 million cedis while those of 55,000 cedis were changed to read 55 million cedis.
Police said they had recovered six vehicles including two BMW cars, which he used part of the money to buy.
The Prosecution said the Bank also recovered 32.5 million cedis from the accused when he was arrested.
