A Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Regina Abanga, has been arrested and put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing an amount of GH¢287,775.47 from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) using the financial institution’s Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at various times.
Regina, 44, was slapped with 116 counts of stealing, but pleaded not guilty before Her Honour Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie yesterday.
Mrs. Quarshie has granted the accused bail in the sum of GH¢250,000.00, with three sureties, one to be justified with landed property worth GH¢125,000. The accused was ordered to report to the police every Wednesday.
The case, as presented by DSP Evans Kesse, was that the complainant, Irene Akua Antwi, is a Unit Head Officer of Business Operation at the ADB Head Office in Accra. He told the court that Regina Abanga is a Secretary at the Energy Ministry and holds an account with the ADB Ridge Branch.
According to him, between November, 2022 and June 2023, the accused manipulated some of the ADB ATMs across the Accra Metropolis and succeeded in withdrawing cash totalling GH¢287,775.47.
DSP Kesse added that she continued with the act until June 15, that the usual withdrawals were detected by Solomon Inkoom, a staff of the bank at the Labone Branch. Solomon also informed the complainant who reported to the ADB’s risk team.
The bank, subsequently, blocked the accused’s ATM card to prevent her from doing further withdrawals. On June 16, 2023, at about 5.00pm, the accused went to ADB Ridge branch to withdraw money from the ATM, but the card was captured.
The accused then went to the Banking hall to report the incident to the management, but only to be arrested by the Risk Team and being handed over to the Ministry’s Police.
During investigations, the accused admitted the offence and indicated further that she used some of the stolen money to buy a Toyota Vitz with registration number GE-3545 -21, and also to finance the construction of a 3-storey building which has reached a 5-cause-level.
How the monies were withdrawn
She withdrew GH¢600.00 on November 4, 2022, GH¢650.00, November 11, 2022, GH¢1,700.00 on November 14, GH¢3,000.00 on November 16, GH¢1,000.00 on November 17, GH¢900.00 on November 18, GH¢200.00 on November 21, GH¢100.00 on November 22, GH¢1,100.00 on November 25, GH¢600.00 on November 28, and GH¢2,300.00 on November 30.
Her December 2022 withdrawals are at follows,
GH¢3,000.00 on December 1, GH¢3,000.00 on December 3, GH¢200.00 on December 5, GH¢1,000.00, December 6, GH¢500.00, December 9, GH¢1,000.00, December 13, GH¢600.00, December 14, GH¢500.00, December 15, GH¢1,000.00, December 16, GH¢1,200.00, December 19, GH¢3,000.00, December 20, GH¢3,000.00, December 23, GH¢200.00, December 24, GH¢3,000.00, and December 30.
2023 withdrawals:
GH¢2,800.00 was withdrawn on January 3, GH¢2,000.00 on January 4, GH¢3,000.00, January 6, GH¢2,500.00, January 12, GH¢500.00, January 13, GH¢2,000.00, January 17, GH¢2,000.00, January 19, GH¢2,300.00, January 20, GH¢1,200.00, January 21, GH¢2,000.00, January 23, GH¢3,000.00, January 25, GH¢3,000.00, January 26, and GH¢2,800.00, January 27.
She withdrew GH¢2,000.00 on February 2, GH¢3,000.00, February 3, GH¢3,000.00, February 10, GH¢3,000.00, February 17, GH¢3,000.00, February 18, GH¢3,000.00, February 20, GH¢3,000.00, February 22, GH¢3,000.00, February 23, and GH¢3,000.00, February 24,.
GH¢3,000.00 was withdrawn on March 1, GH¢3,000.00, March 3, GH¢3,000.00, March 7, GH¢3,000.00, March 8, GH¢3,000.00, March 10, GH¢3,000.00, March 13, GH¢3,000.00, March 14, GH¢3,000.00, March 17, GH¢2,000.00, March 18, GH¢3,000.00, March 20, GH¢3,000.00, March 24, GH¢3,000.00, March 27, GH¢3,000.00, March 28, GH¢3,000.00, March 29, GH¢2,000.00, March 30, and GH¢3,000.00, March 31.
GH¢3,000.00 was withdrawn on April 1, GH¢3,000.00, April 3, GH¢3,000.00, April 5, GH¢3,000.00, April 6, GH¢4,000.00, April 8, GH¢3,000.00, April 12, GH¢3,000.00, April 13, GH¢3,000.00, April 14, GH¢3,000.00, April 15, GH¢3,000.00, April 17, and GH¢3,000.00, April 18, GH¢3,000.00, April 19, … GH¢3,000.00,
May withdrawals were GH¢3,000.00 on 2n day of the month, GH¢3,000.00, 3rd, GH¢3,000.00, 4th, GH¢3,000.00, 6th, GH¢2,000.00, 8th, GH¢3,000.00, 9th, GH¢6,000.00, 12th, GH¢3,000.00, 13th, GH¢3,000.00, 15th, GH¢2,000.00, 17th, GH¢3,000.00, 19th, GH¢3,000.00, 23rd, GH¢3,000.00, 24th, GH¢3,000.00, 25th, GH¢3,000.00, 26th, GH¢3,000.00, 28th, GH¢5,000.00, 29th, GH¢3,000.00, 30th, and GH¢3,000.00, 31st.
In June, GH¢3,000.00 was withdrawn on the 1st day of the month, GH¢3,000.00, 2nd, GH¢3,000.00, 3rd,
GH¢6,000.00, 5th, GH¢3,000.00, 6th, GH¢3,000.00, 7th, GH¢3,000.00, 8th, GH¢2,000.00, 9th, GH¢3,000.00, 12th, GH¢3,000.00, 13th, GH¢3,000.00, 14th, and GH¢3,000.00, 15th.
After investigation, the accused was charged with the offences and brought before the Court.
