Madagascar: Former Lighthouse Pastor Jailed for Car Theft and Embezzlement 

Madagascar Court Delivers Verdict Against Pastor Larry Odonkor

Former head pastor of Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) in Madagascar, Pastor Larry Odonkor, has been sentenced to two years in prison by a Court of Appeal in Madagascar. The verdict stems from Odonkor’s fraudulent sale of the church’s vehicle and subsequent embezzlement of the proceeds.

According to documents obtained by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the court has also ordered Odonkor to reimburse the church the value of the Toyota Land Cruiser, amounting to approximately GHC200,000. The ruling was issued in default, finding Odonkor guilty of fraudulent breach of trust, as reported by Asaase 99.5.

The court emphasized that Odonkor had “embezzled or dissipated” various sums of money, greatly harming the interests of Madagascar LCI and its members. The charges against Odonkor included fraudulent breach of trust, money laundering, stealing, and defrauding by false pretenses, all filed by LCI.

Prosecutors revealed that Odonkor served as the head pastor of LCI-Madagascar until December 2019, after which he relocated to Accra. It was during this transition that the church’s official vehicle assigned to Odonkor in Madagascar mysteriously vanished.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that Odonkor had instructed multiple individuals, including his assistant Pastor Edmund Amartey, to sell the car on his behalf. Unaware of the vehicle’s ownership, Pastor Amartey carried out the sale and handed over all proceeds to Odonkor.

Screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between Odonkor and Amartey were presented as evidence, revealing explicit instructions from Odonkor to sell the car and forward the proceeds. Additionally, WhatsApp exchanges between Odonkor and an LCI-Ghana Administrator were submitted as part of the case.

Prosecutors further alleged that Odonkor clandestinely received a portion of the sale’s proceeds in Accra through an LCI-Ghana administrator, concealing the funds’ illicit origin. This formed the basis for the money laundering charge.

Although the church did not lodge a complaint against Pastor Edmund, the court designated him as a co-accused due to his role in the transaction. However, he was ultimately acquitted and discharged, as it was established that he had innocently assisted Odonkor in the sale without personal gain.

In his defense, Pastor Edmund produced a written apology from Larry Odonkor, retracting the allegations against him. Subsequently, Odonkor apologized for the unfounded claims.

Odonkor, convicted in absentia, has filed an appeal against the court’s decision. However, for the appeal to proceed, Odonkor must personally appear in Madagascar. An arrest warrant awaits him should he set foot in the country.

This verdict serves as a stark reminder of the importance of trust and accountability, even within religious institutions, and underscores the gravity of actions that betray that trust.