Mason remanded for attempting to defraud church

Yaw Boakye, a 37 year-old mason who attempted to defraud members of the Bethel Methodist Church at New Atuabo was on Tuesday remanded into prison custody by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

He pleaded not guilty and claimed he visited the Church to give testimony and not to defraud people.

The accused is to re-appear on March 13.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante that the complainants are Bright Baiden, a lawyer and Reverend Benjamin Adonle, the Minister in charge of New Atuabo Bethel Methodist Church, while the accused hails from Kwadaso in Kumasi

He said at about 10.00 a.m. on Sunday March 2, the accused went to the Bethel Methodist Church as a visitor.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said during the course of the church service, Boakye signaled the complainants that he wanted to give a testimony.

He said when Boakye was given the permission; he gave a passionate testimony and pretended he had been previously healed of a mental ailment which he considered to be spiritual by the prayers of the church.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said Boakye again deliberately appealed to the congregation to donate money for him to seek medical attention because he was suffering from some swelling around his testicles and anus.

He said the church members made a special offering and raised an amount of 70 Ghana cedis and the welfare committee of the church also donated some money to the accused.

The Prosecutor said while the church leaders were in the process of giving the money to the accused, another visitor who knew Boakye in Obuasi, informed the complainants that this was the trick the accused has been indulging in.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said when Boakye was arrested and was being escorted to the police station in Baiden’s vehicle, he deliberately eased himself in the vehicle.

He said when the police and the complainants took the accused to the Tarkwa Government Hospital and was examined by Dr. Ernest Owusu, he was declared fit.