Cashier assists others to rob forex bureau

Paul Akans, a cashier of a forex bureau in Accra who allegedly aided some people to steal his employer's money has been dragged to an Accra tribunal. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing and has been granted ¢30 million bail with a surety.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Kofi Adu told the tribunal, chaired by Mr Imoru Ziblim, that the complainant, Ebow Acquah, is a retired army Captain and the Director of Bills and Checks Forex Bureau, while Akans is one of the cashiers of the bureau.

C/Inspector Adu said each of the cashiers keep a key to the locks of the bureau, but Akans in order to carry out his plot, planned with four others now at large, to steal an amount of ¢35 million from the bureau.

He said sometime in July, Akans sent his assistant, John Wilson, to follow one Tetteh, to see a man who had called him the previous day that he has some dollars to exchange for local currency.

He said Akans' instructions sounded strange to Wilson because it was contrary to the director's directives that on no occasion should one person remain in the bureau during working hours.

C/Inspector Adu said Wilson however, obliged because Akans is his superior. He said no sooner had Wilson left the bureau than the four accomplices rushed in and stole ¢35 million with the assistance of Akans.

He said having executed their plan, the four accomplices tied Akans with a nylon rope before bolting with the money.

C/Inspector Adu said a witness who was passing by went to the bureau to say hello to Akans and his friend but saw him tied with rope in the bureau and he called people to untie him.

He said the director of the bureau was informed and he went with Akans to lodge a complaint of robbery with the Regional CID. After investigations it came to light that Akans conspired with the four men on the ran to steal the money.