Aflao, Dec 9, GNA - Gilbert Ray Agbenyegah, 63, a retired teacher and his fianc=E9e, Rejoice Donkor, 44, have been convicted by an Aflao Circuit Co= urt for stealing 13,500 Ghana Cedis being Social Security benefits of his lat= e wife Ophelia Ametefe.

The court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, deferred sentence for t= he second time to December 14 to see if the prosecution could assist to retrieve part or all the money. Agbenyegah who pleaded guilty to abetment and had been remanded in custody was last Monday granted bail in the sum of 15,000 Ghana Cedis wit= h two sureties until December 14.

His Fiancee, Rejoice Donkor, who also pleaded guilty to stealing and=

impersonation, was however remanded in police custody. Mr Stephen Wuni, a Detective Police Sergeant of Aflao, told the cour= t that Agbenyegah who resides at Akatsi was occasionally visited by Rejoice= , a trader resident at Akosombo and Agogo. He said Agbenyegah's late wife Madam Ametepe with whom he had lived=

together for 21 years with a child was also a teacher and a contributor t= o the SSNIT Pension Scheme.

Mr Wuni said Agbenyega on March 19 following his wife's death approached SSNIT regarding her benefits and was asked to come back with o= ne Peace Ametepe the late wife's sister whom she had nominated as the sole beneficiary. He said Agbenyegah instead presented his fianc=E9e, Rejoice, as the said Peace Ametepe to the SSNIT officials. Mr Wuni said SSNIT finally lodged 13,439.29 Ghana cedis into account=

number 5151010052080 opened by Rejoice Donkor at the Abor branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank using Peace Ametepe's name. He said one Mary Agbozo, a daughter of Agbenyegah's late wife, approached SSNIT for the same benefits but was told her Aunt Peace Ametep= e had already come for the benefits.

Mr Awuni said Mary Agbozo found out later that the picture used in t= he transaction was that of her step-father's fianc=E9e leading to his arrest= .. He said it was also established that Rejoice Donkor withdrew the amo= unt without the knowledge of Agbenyegah, whom she kept deceiving that no mone= y was lodged in the account.

Mr Wuni said Rejoice claimed later that she used part of the money i= n buying goods which she gave on credit at Agogo and Akosombo and loaned ou= t the rest. The Court pitied Agbenyegah for placing himself in such a mess despi= te his age and experience and ordered Rejoice to go to Akosombo and Agogo to=

help retrieve part of the money. 9 Dec 10