Sekondi, June 12, GNA - Mr Awutu Ellies Kaati, a former Chief Accountant of the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) and five others, have appeared in court for their alleged involvement in the diversion of withholding taxes of GH¢1,260,87.05 meant for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into private accounts.

They have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to steal, stealing and forgery of documents.

The other accused persons are Forson Glover, Edmond Seidu, Martin Evih and Joshua K. Yanney, all workers at the IRS and Mahama Sulemana, an accounting staff of the DUR.

Madam Patience Klinogo, a Principal State Attorney prosecuting, said an audit check conducted between February 20, 2006 and March 14th the same year, revealed that the DUR between January 2002 to December 2005 diverted GH¢1,020,000 being withholding taxes collected from various companies in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis into private accounts. She said the cheques written in the name of the IRS, were altered to read "Irving Rams Saka", "Metro Roads Engineer", "Francis R. Asiedu", "Kwaku Enterprise", "Jaysem and Improved Macadams".

Mr. Ato Anderson, a prosecution witness told the court presided over by Mr Justice Robin Batu that the act of the group was carefully done to evade detection.

He said the act exposed the weakness in the internal audit system. The lead counsel for the accused was Lawyer Kofi Forson.