The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, has granted bail to Sharon Abayateye, a 25-year-old client manageress, who is facing trial for allegedly stealing more than GH¢220,000 from her employer.
Abayateye is charged with stealing, an offence under Section 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). She pleaded not guilty to the offence when she was re-arraigned on September 16, 2025, after the prosecution amended the charge sheet.
The prosecution alleged that the accused misappropriated funds belonging to Krystle Ababio, Chief Executive Officer of Vexxels Garment, a company located at Dansoman. Abayateye first appeared before the court on September 10, 2025, and was remanded into custody following her initial plea of not guilty.
At the second sitting, Chief Inspector Daniel Appiah-Ofori, who is prosecuting the case, requested the court to strike out the earlier charge and accept the amended charge sheet. The court granted the request and discharged the accused on the previous charge before taking a new plea, to which she again pleaded not guilty.
The court was informed that on the morning of her second appearance, Abayateye brought GH¢20,000 as part payment of the alleged stolen sum. Her lawyer acknowledged the payment and urged the court to grant her bail on lenient terms. The prosecution, however, opposed the request, citing new information that had come to its attention, which led to her being remanded once more.
When the case was called again on September 25, 2025, defence counsel renewed the bail application. This time, the prosecution did not object, and the court subsequently admitted the accused to bail in the sum of GH¢100,000. The bail is to be supported by two sureties—one must be justified, while the other must be a salaried worker earning a minimum of GH¢2,000.
As part of the bail conditions, Abayateye is required to deposit all travel documents, including her passport, with the court registry.
She is also mandated to report to the police investigator handling the case once every week.
The court has further directed the prosecution to file its disclosures ahead of the next hearing, which has been adjourned to November 13, 2025.
Background
The facts, as presented by the prosecution, indicate that the complainant, Krystle Ababio, employed Sharon Abayateye in September 2024 as a customer service officer, with partial responsibilities over company finances.
On September 5, 2025, Ababio received a complaint via Instagram from a client who claimed to have paid GH¢64,901.96 for dresses but had not received the items.
Upon confronting Abayateye, the accused denied receiving any such payment. However, the complainant later detected a change in the mobile money number on company payment vouchers.
Further investigation revealed that the accused used two SIM cards, one registered in her name and the other in the name Patience Frimpong Ankomah, to divert client payments.
It was discovered that amounts totalling GH¢223,858.05 were received through the mobile money number linked to the SIM card registered in the name of Patience Frimpong Ankomah.
During investigations, the accused allegedly admitted in her cautioned statement to embezzling part of the company’s funds.
Sharon Abayateye was subsequently charged and arraigned before the court.
