Accra, March 14, GNA - A 22-year-old employee of the Golden Tulip Hotel, who took advantage of a faulty Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) to cash 116.9 million cedis from his bank, on Wednesday appeared before a Circuit Court in Accra.

Stephen Chartey, had only 184,050 cedis in his account, but due to a technical hitch in the Societal Ghana-Social Security Bank's (SG-SSB) ATM at the 37 Military Hospital, he went ahead to withdraw the amount. Chartey, charged with 23 counts of stealing, pleaded not guilty in all the counts of stealing a total of 116.9 million cedis.

The court, presided over by Mr Mohamadu Iddrisu admitted the accused to a 120-million cedi bail with one surety to reappear on March 26. Presenting the facts of the case, Police Chief Inspector Reindorf Agyeman told the Court that the complainant is the Accountant of the Ridge Branch of the Bank, while the accused, who works with the Hotel, receives his salary through the Bank.

Chief Inspector Agyeman said from August 11 2006 through September 11 2006 Chartey took undue advantage of the fault in the machine and withdrew a total cash of 116.9 million cedis from the Bank, whereas his balance of account at the time was 184,050 cedis.

The Prosecutor said the accused was monitored and subsequently arrested by the Bank officials who handed him over to the Police on October 2, 2006.