Tema, Dec. 10, GNA -- A caretaker at Community three who collected a rent of over 13 million cedis but failed to hand the money over to the owner of the house, has been granted 30 million cedis bail by the Tema circuit court 'B'.

Augustine Kofi Annan, a welder pleaded not guilty to stealing and will reappear on January 12, 2005.

Chief Inspector Ben Agbedanu told the court, presided over by Mr Stephen Teye that the complainant who owns a house at Community three but lives in Canada engaged the accused to take care of his house. He said the house owner asked the caretaker to eject a tenant, and pay four months arrears, which amounted to 13,950,000 cedis.

Chief Inspector Agbedanu said accused on the same day went to the rent officer, told him that he had been asked by his house owner to collect 13,950,000 cedis, adding the rent control officer released the amount and made him to sign at the back of the receipt.

When the house owner returned and went for his money from the rent officer, he was told that the accused had collected it and he therefore, reported the case to the police that led to his arrest.

The prosecution said in his caution statement the accused stated that he collected only 9.4 million cedis and not 13 million cedis.