A Sunyani Magistrate Court, presided over by Joseph Mensah, has adjourned the case involving three people, who allegedly embezzled Ghc8.5b at the Sunyani West District Education Office to December 2, 2013.

The suspects are Oppong Kwadwo Emmanuel, Manager of the Abesim Agency of the Bomaa Area Rural Bank; Nana Osei Agyemang, the Sunyani West District Director of Education and Obeng Addo, the IPPD Co-ordinator at the Sunyani West District Education Office.

They allegedly paid the salaries of newly-recruited teachers in the district, which were back-dated for more than a year into a private account of Obeng Addo, the IPPD Coordinator at the Abesim-based rural bank, near Sunyani.

The counsel of the three accused persons pleaded for more time during sitting on Wednesday, which was granted by the judge.

They are facing three counts of conspiracy to steal under section 23 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), stealing of public funds under section 124 (1) of Act 29 and forgery of documents under section 158 of Act 29.

All the three accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before the court.