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A 38-year-old lotto manager has been handed a five-year prison sentence after confessing to stealing GH¢221,937.75 from her employer.
The Asante Abuakwa Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Jephthah Appau, convicted Akua Darkoah Asamoah on her own guilty plea to charges of theft and forgery.
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According to prosecution details presented by Police Detective Inspector Alexander Agbekpornu, Asamoah served as the manageress of FOE Lotto Limited’s Atwima-Techiman branch, a subsidiary of Lotto and Lotteries, according to the Ghana News Agency.
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Investigations revealed that between March 22 and June 2, 2024, she systematically diverted a portion of the lotto sales revenue collected from sub-agents instead of remitting the full amount to the company’s Kumasi headquarters.
Discovery and investigation
The fraud came to light after the company’s general manager detected financial discrepancies and filed a formal complaint with the Suntreso Police.
Upon arrest, Asamoah admitted to the theft in her caution statement.
A forensic audit further exposed her elaborate scheme—after official lotto draws, she allegedly fabricated winning tickets to falsely claim payouts, attempting to conceal the embezzled funds.
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Court ruling
Given her admission of guilt and the substantial evidence, the court imposed a five-year custodial sentence.
The case underscores the legal repercussions of financial fraud and the importance of stringent oversight in cash-handling businesses.
This conviction serves as a stern warning to individuals entrusted with corporate funds, reinforcing Ghana’s judicial stance against white-collar crime.
Residents of the township, especially those involved in the same business, will be careful dealing with such business following the arrest of Akua Darkoah Asamoah.