Accra, June 19, GNA – An Accra Circuit Court on Friday granted Kobina Tachie Menso an entrepreneur a bail of GH¢150,000.00 with three sureties for allegedly stealing US$55,110.00 from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The Court ordered that all the sureties must be residents of Accra. It also asked prosecution to make all documents in the case available to the accused within two weeks.
Menso who is a member of the church has denied the charge and will make his next appearance on July 22.
Police Chief Inspector Gulliver Kwabena Tenkorang told the Court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah that Madam Marian Esiape is the Human Resource Manager of the Church and the complainant.
He said Menso is the travelling supervisor at Material Management Department of the Church and his role was to secure visas for missionaries.
He said in July, 2018, the Church’s Auditing Department conducted a field investigation and detected that the accused had embezzled the USD55,110.00.
The prosecution said further investigations revealed that Menso forged and inflated various receipts and presented same to the Church for payment.
Chief Inspector Tenkorang said the accused also charged and collected various sums of monies on missionaries who do not require visas from the Church for his personal use.
Prosecution said the complainant engaged the service of an independent auditing firm (KPMG) and its final report confirmed the theft.
He said when Menso was approached, he admitted the offence and told the Church that he used the money for his school fees, and pleaded that he should be given time to settle the debt but he failed.
The prosecution said a report was later made to the police, leading to the arrest of Menso who promised again to pay the money.
Chief Inspector Tenkorang said after investigations the accused was charged and put before the Court.
GNA