Pastor defrauds micro- finance customers
the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC),
Rev. Moses Kuranteng, has appeared before
the Agona Swedru Circuit Court for allegedly
defrauding about 54 petty traders in Swedru and
its adjoining communities of GH¢14,316. Rev. Kuranteng allegedly used his Agona
Swedru-based micro-finance company to
swindle the customers. Rev. Kuranteng, 50, who doubles as the Chief
Executive Officer of Radian Micro Finance
Limited, allegedly defrauded the customers
under the pretext of giving them loan facilities. He has, however, dismissed the charges of
defrauding by false pretenses, contrary to
section 131 of Act 29/60. The presiding judge of the Akyem Swedru
Circuit Court, Mr Yaw Atta Sampong,
undertaking additional duties at Agona Swedru,
however, granted Rev. Kuranteng a GH¢2,000
bail with two sureties until March 4, 2014. Inspector Isaac Amon, the prosecutor, said the
complainants were petty traders based in Agona
Swedru and its environs whereas Rev.
Kuranteng was the head pastor of the ICGC at
Mankessim and CEO of Radian Micro-finance
Limited at Agona Swedru. According to the prosecutor, Rev. Kuranteng
lured the complainants to deposit various sums
of money in his micro-finance company under
the pretext of granting them loans. In April 2013, Rev. Kuranteng left for an
unknown destination with the (complainants’)
cash and the countless visits by the
complainants to the premises of the company
for their money proved futile. Inspector Amon said a number of the
complainants, led by one Alhaji Abdulai Yabila,
made a report to the police, who arrested Rev.
Kuranteng. Inspector Amon said during interrogation Rev.
Kuranteng claimed ownership of the micro-
finance company and responsibility for the
missing cash and offered to refund the money
but he failed, hence his arraignment before the
court. Source: The Mirror
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