Suspect leaves police escort flat-footed

Aflao, Dec. 15, GNA - Rejoice Donkor, a 44 year-old a woman used by his fianc=E9e, Gilbert Ray Agbenyegah, 63, a retired teacher to clandestinely=

claim his late wife's social security entitlements amounting to GH¢13,5= 00 has absconded.

Agbenyega, who was granted bail in the sum of GH¢15,000 with two sureties at the previous sitting of the court, failed to show up in the Aflao Circuit Court on Tuesday for sentence. Mr Francis Obiri, Presiding Judge, had deferred sentence to December=

14, to enable the police to take Donkor to Koforidua to retrieve part of the stolen money. A bench warrant had been issued for the arrest of Agbenyegah whilst efforts were made by the police to arrest Donkor. Agbenyegah and Donkor pleaded guilty severally to stealing, abetment=

and impersonation.

Police told the court that while on their rounds in Koforidua, Donko= r, who remained in police custody, pleaded with her escort to visit the ladi= es and never came back. The judge adjourned the case to December 20. Facts of the case as told by Mr Stephen Wuni, a Detective Police Sergeant of Aflao, was that Agbenyegah who resides at Akatsi was occasionally visited by Rejoice Donkor, his fianc=E9e and trader resident= at Akosombo and Agogo.

He said Agbenyegah and his late wife Madam Ophelia Ametepe had lived=

together for 21 years during which they bore a child. Mr Wuni said Agbenyega on March 19 this year, following his wife's death, approached SSNIT regarding her benefits and she was asked to come back with Peace Ametepe, the late wife's sister whom she had nominated as=

the sole beneficiary. He said Agbenyegah instead presented his fianc=E9e, Rejoice Donkor, 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 Donkor claimed later that she used part of the money in buying goods which she gave out on credit at Agogo and Akosombo and loaned out the rest. Meanwhile Detective Corporal Robert Foli who escorted Donkor to Koforidua had been given 10 days to produce the convict. 15 Dec. 10