Credit Officer Jailed Two Years For Stealing, Others Fined

Henry Adotey Allotey, an Account officer of Kalmoni Group/Japan Motors, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for stealing GHC73,000 belonging to his employer.

Mr Allotey had earlier on refunded GHS22,000 out of the amount he stole. The court in its judgement further ordered him to refund GHS51,000 out of the GHS73,000 he stole.

His two other accomplices, Ebenezer Sodja Anum and Daniel Kofi Adjierteh, who were accounts officers of the company, were also fined GHS6,000 each in default serve 12 months imprisonment each.

The Court found out that it was Mr Allotey who lured his accomplices to commit the crime.

Accused’s sentence and conviction came after the Court presided over by Mrs Justice Ruby Aryeetey, a High Court Judge, sitting with additional responsibility as a Circuit Court Judge, had found them guilty on the charges of conspiracy, stealing and falsification of accounts.

Prosecution, led by Police Chief Inspector Simon Apoirsornu, called five witnesses to make their case. Accused persons called none.

Chief Inspector Apiorsornu said Mr Allotey was a Credit Control Officer while Anum and Adjierteh were Service Advisors. They were stationed at Tema but later Anum was transferred to the Accra branch.

Prosecution said the company operated with two accounting policies where customers came for services on cash basis while others enjoyed credit facilities or made upfront payment for services.

Prosecution said Allotey was in charge of opening of accounts for customers and also chasing debtors.

Chief Inspector Apiorsornu said in May 2009, Allotey and Anum came together to falsify the company accounts.

Prosecution said they forged payments for cash of customers to reflect as though they were customers.

The prosecutor said accused also forged invoices which they issued to the customers.

According to the Prosecutor, the cash payment made by customers were stolen by the accused and they shared the booty among themselves.

Additionally, prosecution said money paid by debtors of the company were also stolen by the accused but records still indicated that customers owed the company.

In the year 2011, Anum was transferred to the company’s head office and he was replaced by Adjeirteh.

Prosecution said Allotey introduced Anum to the deal and they both siphoned money from the company.

In May 2013, prosecution said Management of the company was alerted and an audit was carried out.

During the auditing, it was revealed that GHS89,232.22 had been stolen.

When management confronted accused persons with the findings, they confessed to the crime and they funded their respective share of the booty.

While Allotey refunded GHC22,000 out of 73,000, Anum and Adjierteh refunded GHC15,658.00.

SOURCE: GNA