Student on 100 million cedis bail for allegedly stealing

Cape Coast, Sept. 21, GNA- Michael Kofi Smith, a 21-year old student, who allegedly falsified documents and stole 1.5 million cedis belonging to another student, was on Wednesday granted 100 million cedis bail with two sureties to be justified.

Smith pleaded not guilty to forgery, falsification of documents and stealing 1.5 million, and is to re-appear on October 19. Prosecuting, Inspector Ben Kluffio, told the court, presided over by Mr. Beresford Acquah that Smith and the complainant Richard Owusu, were friends and live at Assin Sibinso and Assin Amoabeng respectively, and that sometime in July this year, Owusu met Smith at Nyankomasi Ahenkro, where he told him that he was there to open an account with the rural bank.

Inspector Kluffio alleged that the accused, advised Owusu to rather open the account at the Commercial Bank at Abura Dunkwa, where he claimed a higher interest was paid for savings. According to him, Owusu insisted on opening an account with the rural bank, and Smith accompanied him and in his presence, Owusu was asked to bring along some passport pictures, after being issued with a passbook.

Inspector Kluffio also alleged that the following day, Smith went to the bank with his passport pictures and impersonated Owusu, and the pictures were embossed on the form at the bank. He further alleged that Smith later visited the complainant and convinced him to give him the passbook to check something in it, but kept it for almost two weeks.

On August 15, Owusu went to the bank only to be told by the clerk that he only had 100,000 cedis instead of 1.5 million cedis in his account and Owusu reported the case to the police who arrested Smith in the course of investigations, and he refunded 600,000 cedis.