A junior Catholic priest from Kenya has been forced to surrender his passport after being charged with stealing more than Ksh 103,749.94 (US$1000) from a charity.
According to Daily Mail, Father Alexander Mutua Munyao is accused of stealing from the Lismore Diocese in northern New South Wales.
He has been charged with stealing Ksh 28,012 (US$270) between November and June this year, and another Ksh 90, 262 (US$870) in July – with both amounts adding up to Ksh 118, 274 (US$1,140).
The 35-year-old priest, who was charged on September 19, appeared in Ballina Local Court on Thursday morning before magistrate Robyn Denes for a first mention, the Daily Mail quotes Australian newspaper, The Northern Star, as reporting.
Munyao remains on bail and has been ordered to surrender his passport. His conditions also require him to observe a curfew and remain at the St Francis Xavier presbytery in Ballina.
Police bail papers noted he had ‘few community ties and no family ties in Australia’.
His case was adjoured until November 30.
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