Man convicted for stealing church money

A Church Protocol Officer, who forged the signature of his church leader and succeeded in siphoning money totaling GHC14,000.00 was on Friday convicted by an Accra Circuit Court.

Foster Nii Ayi Smith is said to have forged the signatures of Prophet Stephen Mensah, Founder and General Overseer of Power Miracle International Church at Kaadjanor in Accra and stole monies from the various accounts of the church.

Smith stole cheque book leaflets of Access Bank, Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and Unibank Ghana Limited in order to carry out his nefarious acts.

Charged with seven counts of forgery and seven counts of stealing, Smith pleaded guilty.

The court presided over by Mr Seyeram Azumah convicted him to a fine of GHC3,600 in default, three years jail.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP ) Peter Nsoh said the complainant was Prophet Mensah the Founder and General Overseer of Power Miracle International Church at Kaadjaor in Accra.

Smith is a protocol officer of the same church. In January this year, Prophet Mensah asked his secretary to obtain bank statements from Access, ADB and Unibank.

After obtaining the various bank statements, ASP Nsoh said it was detected that Smith had forged the signature of Prophet Mensah and withdrawn GHC14,000.00 on different dates at the various banks without the consent of the complainant.

A report was made to the Police and Smith was arrested. In his cautioned statement Smith admitted withdrawing only GH 6,000 cedis from the various accounts.