Pastor defrauds micro-finance customers
The head pastor of the Mankessim branch of 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.
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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.
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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.