Wa, Sept. 18, GNA- A Circuit court at Wa has sentenced a 35-year-old cashier of the Nadowli Agency of the Sonzelle Rural Bank to 10 years imprisonment for stealing 14.9 cedis belonging to 25 costumers of the bank.

Gregory Dakura pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to steal, forging of documents and stealing.

The judge, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha, said he was giving the ex-banker a severe sentence to deter other bankers from indulging in such acts since they are required to be the custodians of costumers' assets.

An accomplice, Emmanuel Kpankpari, 34, an Accounts Clerk of the same bank, jumped bail and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Prosecuting, Police Inspector Stephen Dobara told the court that on August 27, 2000, Inspectors from the banking supervision department of the Bank of Ghana detected the fraud on their rounds.

It was discovered that the two officials fraudulently forged the thumbprints and signatures on the cards of 25 costumers and withdrew the amount.