PARAMOUNT MISAPPROPRIATES MONEY (PAGE 15)

By Samuel Duodu, Sunyani.

THE Paramount Chief of Basaa Traditional Area in the Atebubu/ Amantin District of the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Wiredu Denteh II, has been granted bail in the sum of Gh¢2,000 with a surety to be justified by the Sunyani Magistrate’s Court.
The accused, charged with stealing Gh¢700 belonging to the traditional council pleaded not guilty and is to reappear before the court presided over by Mr Albert Zoogah on July 7, 2008.
After listening to the counsel for the accused and the prosecution, the presiding judge decided to grant the accused person bail.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Kinsley Baafi told the court that the complainant in the case was Nana Osei Atuahene II, Krontihene of the Basaa Traditional Area in Atebubu/Amantin and also acting President of the Traditional Council, while the accused is a businessman and paramount chief of the area.
He said in October 2005, a meeting was called by the traditional council for the accused person to render accounts on the financial standing of the council.
Chief Inspector Baafi said at the meeting, it was detected that the accused had withdrawn GH¢700 from the accounts of the traditional council for his personal use without informing the council.
He stated that the council asked the accused person to refund the money but he refused. Also on February 4, 2008, the matter was reported to the Atebubu Police, but the accused failed to turn up at the police station when he was invited for questioning.
The prosecutor said on May 16, 2008, the case was referred to the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) office, at Sunyani, where the accused admitted the offence and was granted bail.
Chief Inspector Baafi said after the necessary investigation by the police, the accused person was charged with the offence and processed for court.