Three appear in court for stealing

A Sunyani Magistrates’ Court has granted bail to a banker and two educationists for allegedly stealing GHC57,000 belonging to government.

They are Emmanuel Kwadwo Oppong, Manager of Abesim Branch of Bomaa Rural Bank, Nana Osei Agyemang, Sunyani West District Director of Education and Obeng Addo, Integrated Personal Processing Department (IPPD) Coordinator at the Sunyani West District Directorate of Education.

They pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy to steal, stealing and forgery of documents. Each accused person was granted GHC50,000 bail with a surety to re-appear on Wednesday, October 30.

Mr William Botwe-Boafo, an official of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) told the court presided over by Mr Joseph Mensah that, on May 5, this year, the Brong- Ahafo Regional Office of the EOCO had information about some malpractices at the Directorate.

He said EOCO investigations revealed that Nana Agyemang and Obeng recruited some teachers and backdated their salaries for a year.

Mr Botwe-Boafo said they conspired with Oppong to open accounts for them at the branch and in addition forged their signatures to withdraw the salaries during the period totaling GHC57,000 and shared it among themselves.

He said the accused persons were invited by EOCO and after investigations charged with the offences.