Accra, March 5, GNA - Joseph Akatin Wintamah, an accountant of the Forestry Commission, who allegedly embezzled GH¢47,000 appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Friday. Wintamah pleaded not guilty to stealing.

The court presided over by Mrs Adwoa Coleman remanded the accused in=

custody pending further investigations.

The accused, who appeared without a lawyer, would re-appear on March=

16, 2010.

When the case was called, prosecuting Police Superintendent Adzie Bo= ye prayed the court to remand Wintamah into police custody to enable the pol= ice conduct further investigations. The matter before the court is that, the complainant is the Finance Manager of the Forestry Commission headquarters in Accra and accused was in charge of the collection of commission's revenue.

On February 10, this year, internal auditors of the Commission audit= ed its accounts and realised that the accused could not account for GH¢47,= 000. A report was made to the police and accused arrested; during interrogation, accused admitted the offence but disputed the figure involved. The accused has surrounded five Nissan Urvan buses to the police as part of the assets acquired with the stolen money. 5 March 10