Joseph Yeboah, Chairman of Effiakuma Taxi branch of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), on Friday appeared before Takoradi circuit court for allegedly stealing GH¢8,700 belonging to the Union.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to reappear on February 22.

The court ordered that an official at the Takoradi Market Circle branch of Fidelity Bank who authorised the withdrawal of the amount from the account of the Union should also be charged and arraigned on the adjourned date.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Felix Danku said during the first quarter of last year, the accused person obtained an injunction from a Sekondi High Court restraining the Union from conducting elections in July 2012.

He said the accused person told the executives of the branch union that he had sacked them from office.

Chief Inspector Danku said the executives were not happy with the conduct of the accused person and filed a writ at a Sekondi High Court and also petitioned the National Secretariat of the GPRTU for acting contrary to the constitution of the Union.

He said while the case was pending, the accused person went to the Fidelity Bank and withdrew GH¢4,900 on October 22, 2012 and GH¢ 3,800 on October 25, 2012 from the account of the Union for his personal use without the consent of the executives.

Chief Inspector Danku said cheques of the Union are supposed to be signed by the Chairman and the First Trustee but the accused person was the only signatory to the cheque and succeeded in withdrawing the money.

He said the executives of the Union lodged a complainant at the Western Regional Criminal Investigations Department and the accused was arrested.

Chief Inspector Danku said the accused admitted withdrawing money from the Union's account and after investigations, he was charged with the offence.