Regional News of Wednesday, 2 June 2004

Source: GNA

Pastor of True Fire Ministry burgled.

Tema, June 02, GNA - Four people who broke into a pastor's room and made away with electrical appliances and a passport with a UK visa have been remanded into custody by the Tema Circuit Court "B".

Musa Alidu pleaded guilty, Emmanuel Arthur, auto mechanic, Quarshie, Ricky and Helena Arthur pleaded not guilty, while Kudjoe is at large. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Alice Gyamfi told the court presided over by Mr Stephen Teye that some time ago, Helena Arthur consulted the pastor for some spiritual works for her husband and a friend abroad.

She said Pastor Nicholas Obeng, leader of True Fire Ministry at Middle East, Ashaiman demanded 1.3 million cedis for the job, and Helena who paid the money later alleged that the job was not done.

On July 3, 2002, at about 10am, Helena took Musa and Arthur to the house of the pastor and seized his 20-inch colour TV set, Samsung system and a video deck to replace the 1.3 million cedis and the pastor reported the case to police leading to the arrest of Helena and the items retrieved from her.

Chief Inspector Gyamfi said on July 5, 2002, at 1.00pm, Musa and Kudjoe went back and attacked the pastor and his wife. During the attack, the pastor and his wife ran away. The accused therefore made away with electrical gadgets valued at 13 million cedis.

Kudjoe went to Mawuli Klu to sell the fridge for 480,000 cedis, but was asked to bring the receipt covering the fridge. He did not go back until the police and the pastor went for it. Attempts made by the police to trace the rest of the items proved futile.