Accountant Charged With Stealing 198 Million Cedis

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 May, '98

Samuel Kwesi Asante, an accountant of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), who embezzled 26,578 dollars and 198.6 million cedis belonging to his employers today appeared before an Accra Circuit Tribunal charged with stealing. Asante, 30, also charged with forgery of documents and falsification of figures, pleaded not guilty and was given bail in the sum of 100 million cedis with two sureties to justify. He would reappear on June 17. Prosecuting, Police Inspector Joseph Ohemeng told the tribunal chaired by Mr. Charles Nyewolema that the suspect was an accountant at the UNHCR at the Airport Residential Area in Accra. Inspector Ohemeng, said somewhere in March, this year, Asante tendered his resignation letter to his employers. As a result, his books of account were audited after which it was detected that he had embezzled 26,578 dollars and 198.6 million cedis. He said based on a report made by his employers, Asante was arrested and during police investigation, he allegedly admitted the offence. gri