Clerk swindles cocoa company cash amount of GHC16,605

Rexford Darko, a Purchasing Clerk (PC) of the Produce Buying Company Limited (PBC) at Akim Otwereso in the Akyimansa District, is in court for allegedly misappropriating GH¢16,605 belonging to his employers

Darko pleaded not guilty to fraudulent breach of trust and was remanded in police custody by a magistrate court at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region.

He would reappear on April 12.

Detective Chief Inspector Kwadwo Ahenkorah told the court, presided over by Mr. Albert Owusu Annor that, Mr Samuel Ayeh Ntow, the District Officer (DO) of the Producer Buying Company, a licensed cocoa buying company in the country, is the complainant, while Darko, the accused, is a Purchasing Clerk of the same company, but stationed at Otwereso.

Chief Inspector Ahenkorah said during the 2010/2011 main cocoa season, various sums of money were given to the accused to purchase cocoa from his society (shed) at Otwereso to be transported to the PBC depot at Akim Oda, but he did not.

Chief Inspector Ahenkorah said, Darko was arrested and when interrogated, he told the police that he gave the amount to his friend, another PC, to defray his debt but his friend was not able to pay back until his arrest.**