Richard Essuman, a 34-year old susu collector, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in hard labour by a Cape Coast Circuit Court for stealing a sum of GH¢14,304.91.

The money belongs to the Dominase Agency of Nyankumasi Rural Bank in the Central Region.

He pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Francis Ockom told the court presided over by Mrs Florence Kai Otu that, Essuman was a field officer of the Micro Finance Department of Dominase Agency of Nyankumasi Rural Bank and was responsible for receiving deposits from customers within the bank’s catchment area as well as recording of entries into the bank’s cash books.

He said in September 2011, the complainant who is the Supervising Manager of the bank did routine investigations into the transaction of the Department and noticed that figures recorded in the passbooks of some customers of the Bank by Essuman did not tally with those recorded in the cash books.

Chief Inspector Ockom said, the complainant questioned Essuman about the missing monies and he accepted that he had collected the monies but misappropriated it.

He said the amount which was found to have been misappropriated at different times was GH¢8,904.91 and GH¢5,402.00 totaling GH¢14,304.9.

The prosecutor said a report was made to the police and the convict was arrested but he later made part payment of GH¢4,500.00 but was however charged with the offence after investigations.