Farmer arrested for stealing church money

The Gyapekrom police has arrested a 28-year-old farmer for stealing GH¢6,900.00 belonging to the local Presbyterian Church in the Jaman South District of Brong-Ahafo Region.

Superintendent Alhaji Maama Arhin, Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Crime Officer told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday in Sunyani that complainant in the case Barima Boamah, is the treasurer of the church.

He said on Sunday December 14,2014 Boamah took the amount home after an-end-of-year church harvest with the intention of depositing it at the bank the following day.

The Regional Crime Officer said the suspect Augustine Ntim, a relative of complainant, staying in the same house allegedly climbed the ceiling of Boamah’s room to steal the amount and fled to hide in his farm.

Superintendent Arhin stated that when Boamah realised that the money had been stolen he inquired from the relatives in the house but Ntim was nowhere to be found.

He said the next day, neighbours assisted Boamah to search for Ntim in the bush and he was eventually found on his farm and sent to the Japekrom Police Station.

Superintendent Arhin stated that on interrogation the suspect admitted the offence and led the Police to his farm where the amount had been hidden.

The Regional Crime Officer said the suspect would be put before the Dormaa-Ahenkro District Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, December 16 on a charge of stealing.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Arhin advised church leaders to deposit their monies with the Police for safe keeping at the weekends when the bank was not working or keep it in a safe to prevent thieves from taking advantage of such situations.

He cautioned the general public to also desist from keeping huge sums of monies in their stores and homes.