A former headmaster of the Akim State College at Akim Oda, Stephen Ayensu, has appeared before the Akim Swedru Circuit Court, charged with embezzlement of school fees totalling ?8.27 million.

Ayensu who pleaded not guilty was granted bail to re-appear on December 19 this year. Police Inspector Reindorf Agyeman told the court that in January last year, the bursar and the founder of the school, Mr Yao Gyikunnu, travelled and entrusted the collection of school fees to the accused.

He said even though the bursar gave the accused an official receipt book, after collecting fees from some of the students Ayensu rather gave them pieces of paper, on which the payments were recorded.

When the bursar returned from his trip, the students went to him with the pieces of paper to collect official receipts to cover the fees they paid.

Police Inspector Agyeman said it was there that the Bursar realised that the accused collected a total amount of ?8.27 million without issuing receipts.

When the accused was confronted, he pleaded for forgiveness and gave an undertaking that the amount should be deducted from his monthly salary but the Bursar refused and reported the case to the police.

The Prosecutor said the accused was arrested and after investigations and charged with the offence.