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FOR THE love of money, a male teacher in Asamankese has forged the death certificate of his beloved wife so as to claim his insurance benefits. Edward Sarpong Bruce, a teacher at Roman Catholic B Junior High School in Asamankese, lied to officials of Star Assurance that his wife, one Sabina Debrah, in whose name he had registered an insurance package, had died. Not only has the law caught up with him for his fraudulent activity but relatives of his wife have called for a dissolution of the marriage, insisting their daughter could not continue to live with a man who wanted her dead just for money. According to the insurance agreement, Bruce was to contribute an amount of GH�8.20 per month for a period of years so that in a circumstance whereby he lost his wife he would be entitled to an amount of money. However, just after contributing for four months, Bruce could not wait for his wife to die but decided to go for his insurance benefit. He allegedly connived with one Frank Owusu, the registrar of Asamankese Births and Deaths registry, to forge his wife�s death certificate and presented it to the insurance company, insisting he should be given the amount. His trick was uncovered as he was arrested and put before court. Bruce pleaded guilty to the offence of deceiving public officer when he appeared before an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Audrey Korcuvi-Tay. He was convicted on his own plea and sentenced to pay a fine of GH�2,400. In default, he would serve a one year jail term. Before the court pronounced its verdict, his lawyer George Asamaney pleaded with the court not to give him a custodial sentence but a fine as he had already suffered gravely for his action. His lawyer informed the court that family members had called for dissolution of the marriage and that he (the lawyer) was present when a meeting was held between the two families. Owusu, his accomplice, pleaded not guilty to a charge of abetment of crime. He was granted a GH�20,000 with two sureties to re-appear on October 10, 2011. The prosecutor, chief inspector Charles Chester, presenting the facts, disclosed that the teacher took a Home Call funeral policy with Star Life Assurance on March 1, 2011 and contributed GH�8.20 every month. After contributing for four months, Bruce applied to Star Life Assurance Company for a death claim in respect of his wife, Sabina Debrah as indicated in the insurance package. He supported his claim with Asamankese Government Hospital folder No. 11880/10 as well as a certified death certificate issued by the registrar of Amasaman Births and Death Registry. However, there were no entries in the hospital folder which stated that the wife was dead. According to the prosecutor, the investigator of the insurance company made an inquiry at Asamankese Birth and Deaths Registry and discovered there were no records, indicating that the registrar had information about the dead person before issuing the certificate. When the investigator followed up to Bruce�s house, he observed that Sabina was alive. A report was made to the Nima police and the accused persons were arrested.