Court remands forex bureau manager in custody for stealing

Kumasi, Sept. 10, GNA - The manager of Garden City Forex Bureau in Kumasi was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by a Kumasi circuit court for stealing 71 million cedis belonging to Francis Awuah, a client.

Robert Yawson, 45, pleaded guilty and will re-appear on September 17. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Duuti Tuaraka told the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Mensah that on August 29, this year, Awuah, who wanted to change 120 million cedis into Euros went to the Garden City Forex Bureau.

He said Awuah met the accused at the forex bureau, who collected the money and gave him 5,000 Euros, the equivalent of 49 million cedis and asked him to return in three days time for the Euro equivalent of the remaining 71 million cedis because at the time, he did not have enough.

ASP Tuaraka said Awuah agreed to this arrangement but had the shock of his life when on the third day, September 1, he went to the Forex Bureau only to be told that the accused had proceeded on leave. Not satisfied, the prosecution said, Awuah did his own investigation at the bureau and was told that the said transaction between him and the accused was not officially documented in the books of the bureau.

ASP Tuaraka said alarmed at the development, some staff of the forex bureau traced the accused to his house at Atonsu but they were told that Yawson had vacated the place.

He said Awuah then reported to the police who mounted a search and arrested him on September 6 at a hideout at Ahenema-Kokoben near Kumasi. During interrogation, ASP Tuaraka said the accused admitted the offence and said he used the money to settle a debt. 10 Sept. 03