Richard Okai, a 26-year-old mobile money salesperson, stands accused of embezzling approximately GH¢ 1,385,910.3.

His case is currently before the Adentan Circuit Court, awaiting guidance from the Attorney General (AG).

Initially arraigned on March 7, 2024, before Judge Angela Attachie, Okai pleaded not guilty to six charges of misappropriating varying sums of money. These charges range from GH¢ 94,596.30 to GH¢ 451,048.60.

During a subsequent hearing on April 23, 2024, before Relief Judge Nana Aba Quaiba Nunoo, the case was adjourned to April 29, 2024, awaiting directives from the AG.

Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo, the prosecutor, presented the case, detailing that the complainant, residing in Kissieman near Achimota, Accra, owns a sizable cosmetic shop named Lilyna Enterprise at the Madina Market. Okai, also known as Kobby, works as a salesperson and resides in UN, a suburb of Madina.

Okai's responsibilities include handling mobile money transactions at Lilyna Enterprise, collecting payments from customers, and depositing them into the company's merchant account. The prosecutor highlighted that due to the complainant's trust in Okai, she did not scrutinize his handling of the mobile money transactions.

“On February 20, 2024, at about 10 a.m., some customers were paying through mobile money when Naa Mayley, the complainant's daughter and a witness in this case, noticed Richard acting suspiciously,” C/Insp Lanyo added.

Naa Mayley confiscated the company's mobile phone from Richard Okai and discovered that he had transferred GH¢1,697 from the company's account to his personal mobile money account. She immediately informed her mother, and together they inspected Okai's phone, uncovering numerous transfers from the company's account to his own.

Subsequently, they reported the incident to the police, leading to Okai's arrest. During questioning, he admitted to the crime.

The police obtained a statement from MTN regarding Okai's accounts, revealing that from December 2022 to February 2023, he had embezzled GH¢159,315.5. From August 2023 to December 2023, the amount rose to GH¢463,489.6, and from January to February 2024, he had stolen GH¢87,098.5. This totaled GH¢709,903.6.

Further investigations revealed that Okai had used some of the stolen money to purchase land in Akatanmaso, Accra. He also deposited GH¢7,000 in his Fidelity Bank account, kept GH¢3,000 in his mobile money account, and spent some money on gambling.

Following the investigation, he was charged with theft and brought before the court.