Accra, Dec. 18, – Larry Odonkor, a former pastor of Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI), has failed in two separate appeals arising from a car theft case in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The Court of Appeal of the Antananarivo Correctional Chamber dismissed his most recent appeal, finding it to be without merit. The three-member panel affirmed the full decision of the lower court and further ordered him to bear the costs of the action.
On April 18, 2023, the Criminal Tribunal in Madagascar found Odonkor guilty of fraudulent breach of trust, dissipation and embezzlement of funds. He received a two-year custodial sentence and was ordered to pay damages amounting to 75 million Ariary.
Odonkor subsequently appealed the judgment through his lawyer. In a Facebook post, he alleged that the decision had been procured “through the back door” and expressed confidence that he would ultimately be cleared.
Court records indicate that his lawyer, Mr Stephen Rasendrarivo, appeared at the first two hearings but failed to attend later sittings despite being duly notified by DHL Mail.
Odonkor’s first appeal was dismissed on May 7, 2024. The second appeal experienced multiple adjournments at the instance of Odonkor and his counsel. During the proceedings, his lawyer tendered documents including WhatsApp exchanges between Odonkor and an official of LCI Madagascar in which he denied selling the vehicle.
After hearing the case, the Court of Appeal on November 28, 2025, rejected the appeal as unsubstantiated.
Odonkor previously served as head pastor of LCI Madagascar until December 2019, after which he relocated to Accra. During the period of transition, the church’s official vehicle assigned to him went missing. Investigations later concluded that he had instructed three individuals to dispose of the car before his departure.
One of those individuals, his assistant pastor, reportedly unaware that the vehicle belonged to the church, sold it and handed the proceeds to Odonkor. Prosecutors submitted WhatsApp chats between Odonkor and the assistant pastor showing directions to sell the car and transfer the funds. Additional chats between Odonkor and an LCI Ghana administrator were also tendered in evidence.
A warrant for Odonkor’s arrest has been issued and circulated to two state security bodies, directing that he be detained and imprisoned upon entry into Madagascar by air or land.
Separately in Ghana, the Attorney General is contesting a Circuit Court decision that acquitted Odonkor of charges relating to alleged theft of monies earmarked for SSNIT contributions and Ghana Revenue Authority taxes. The Attorney General argues that the trial judge erred in concluding that although Odonkor took the funds, his subsequent dissipation of them did not constitute dishonesty.
GHBUSS
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