Ghanaian faces embezzlement charges in US

COLUMBIA -- A former middle school principal has been charged with embezzlement after investigators say he wrote more than $4,000 in checks after being told not to use school funds.

Alfred O. Vanderpuije, 49, of Columbia, was charged Monday with embezzlement of public funds, according to an arrest warrant from the State Law Enforcement Division.

Vanderpuije left his job as W.A. Perry Middle School principal Feb. 4, but a spokeswoman for Richland School District 1 would not say whether he resigned or was fired.

According to the warrant, Vanderpuije wrote $4,460 worth of checks from the school's account to pay for school trips and other items. SLED spokesman Lt. Mike Brown said an auditor for the school district had told Vanderpuije not to use school funds.

The incidents took place between March and December 2004, according to the warrant.

Richland 1 spokeswoman Karen York said procedures set up by the district's financial-services department govern student accounts.

She said the matter was turned over to SLED when it was discovered that a procedural violation had occurred.

Vanderpuije, who was hired as principal July 1, 2000, has repaid the money, York and Brown said.