Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 6 September 2012

Source: GNA

Pastor defrauds banker

Pastor Emmanuel Adotey-Sagoe of the World Miracle Church at Kwahu Bepong, on Wednesday appeared before the Mpraeso Circuit Court on a charge of defrauding by false pretences.

He was said to have collected GH?10, 220 from a banker with the promise of supplying 400 bags of maize to him.

Pastor Adotey-Sagoe pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted GH?15,000 bail with one surety to re-appear on September 13 for trial.

Prosecuting, Detective Police Inspector Andrews Anim-Yirenkyi told the court presided over by Mr. Kwaku Osei, that in March 2011, the pastor approached Mr. Emmanuel Abiamo, a banker, and advised him to enter into business partnership with his friend who deals in maize.

He said Pastor Adotey Sagoe was able to convince the banker to transfer the sum of GH? 10,220 into an account at the Barclays bank to enable the said friend to supply him the 400 bags of maize at the cost of GH? 50 per bag.

The prosecutor said one month after the transfer of the money, the pastor called a witness who was present during the transaction and informed him that the maize had arrived and would need extra GH? 100 for transport which was given to him.

He said after persistent demand for the maize, a report was made to Pastor Adotey-Sagoe’s superior pastors in Kumasi where he admitted the offence and pleaded for a short period to refund the money but he failed to do so.

A report was made to the Police where Pastor-Sagoe was invited for questioning and in his caution statement, he denied the offence but after investigations, he was charged with the offence.