Chorister in court for stealing church funds

Accra, Jan. 26, GNA - A chorister of Light House Chapel at Korle Gonno, who allegedly broke into the offices of the Church and made away with 21.8 million cedis; 2,198 dollars and 20 pounds appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday charged with unlawful entry and stealing.

Isaac Onyatsole, who is also a trader, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to 100 million cedis bail with a surety to reappear on February 20.

Chief Inspector Ben Darfour told the Court that at midnight on December 7, 2005 the complainant, Ms Rosemary Ampofo, Pastor and Administrator of the Church, closed for the day and locked the door to her office and went home.

When she returned the following day, she detected that her office had been broken into and the various sums of money stolen. Pastor Ampofo reported the matter to the Police and during investigations the Police were informed that Onyatole was arrested at the Neoplan Station when he was caught sharing money to his friends at about 0300 hours.

When Onyatole was interrogated he told the Police that he withdrew the money from his Barclays Bank account in the morning. The Prosecution said Police investigations, however, showed that Onyatole stole the money from the Light House Chapel Pastoral office. Prosecution said 13.7 million cedis and 440 dollars had since been retrieved from Onyatole.