Akyem Swedru, April 13, GNA - The Akyem Swedru Circuit Court on Friday sentenced Alexander Ahianyo, a 26-year-old bursar of Hecta Educational Institutions at Akyem Oda, to four years imprisonment in hard labour for stealing 38 million cedis of school fees. Police Chief Inspector Ben Osei Kwadwo told the court that in February last year the Director of the school detected a shortfall in cash inflows and questioned Ahianyo how the situation came about but he failed to offer any tangible explanation.

Ahianyo's drawer was searched and a duplicate receipt book, which he had been issuing out side by side with that of the school, was recovered. It was realised that Ahianyo collected eight million cedis school fees and issued his own receipt. He said the convict accepted responsibility, pleaded for leniency and wrote a "promissory" note to refund the money later. Mr Kwadwo said instead of the convict refunding the money he rather continued with his fraudulent activities. On August 28 last year when Ahianyo's accounts was audited it came to light that he had further duped the school to the tune of 33 million cedis.

He again accepted responsibility and wrote another "promissory" note to refund the money but failed to honour his promise.