Accra, May 13, GNA - A US-based pastor, who defrauded the Ghana Aids Commission and Hope and Life Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) of 50,000 dollars was on Thursday sentenced to five years imprisonm= ent by an Accra Fast Track High Court.

Victor Ocloo, Pastor of Open Heavens Church, took the money under the pretext of providing pre-fabricated materials to construct a facility for People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWA).

Actually, money for the execution of the project was made available by a US-based NGO to the complainants.

Ocloo was found guilty for defrauding by false pretences and issuing= dud cheques. The court presided over by Mr. Justice Senyo Dzamefe sentenced the accused to five years imprisonment for fraud and 12 months for issuing du= d cheques. The sentences are to run concurrently. Ocloo who had since 2008 refunded GH¢15,000 out of the money was a= lso ordered to refund the remaining 40,000 dollars to the complainants. Prosecution's case was that the accused claimed to be the sole distributor and representative of Thermal Steel Corporation of USA in Gha= na. In August 2008, the accused told the management of Life and Hope Foundation, Ghana Aids Commission and Bedrock Engineering Company that he=

could provide them with pre-fabricated steel to build a facility for PLWA= .. The prosecution said that 50,000 dollars was given to the accused fo= r pre-shipment fees but failed to supply the steel and provided document purportedly covering the materials. The prosecution said that the accused refunded GH¢15,000 and issue= d several cheques which were dishonoured. In February 2009, the accused was arrested and after investigations charged with the offence.