Cape Coast — A Circuit Court in Cape Coast, on Tuesday, remanded a 32-year old pastor, who doubles as the Chief Executive Director of a microfinance scheme called Aseda Savings and Loans Company, for defrauding his clients in the sum of GH¢21,550.

The accused, Mr. Emmanuel Boateng, pleaded not guilty, and would re-appear on February 20, this year.

ASP Okyere Andam, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mrs. Florence Kai-Out, that the complainants are residents of Abirem Agona in the Komenda Edin Eguafo- Abirem (KEEA) Municipality in the Central Region, while the accused is also from Takoradi.

He said somewhere in June last year, the accused travelled to Agona Abirem and introduced his microfinance business to the community, of which the complainants accepted the idea, and were subsequently registered into the business.

ASP Andam stressed that Boateng collected a total sum of GH¢21,550.00 as deposit from the complainants with pretext of buying them cars.

He said up till now Boateng had failed to provide them with the cars, and also failed to refund their monies, and that the accused was only playing hide and seek with the complainants.

ASP Andam noted that on January 28 this year, the case was reported to the police and the accused was later arrested on February 9, adding that the accused, in his caution statement, admitted the offence.