Eight persons before court for theft of cocoa beans

Tema, Oct. 20, GNA - Eight persons who allegedly stole 111 bags of cocoa beans valued at 15.6 million cedis from a warehouse at Tema, the property of Ghana Cocoa Board, appeared before a Tema Circuit Tribunal on Tuesday.

They are: Victor Annan, Kofi Kwaming, Roland Narh, securitymen, Solomon Tetteh Nartey, Abdul Fataw, carriers, Adamu Banda driver, Daniel Soga, driver's mate and Kwame Osape alias Abrokwah, a trader.

They all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, abetment of crime and stealing. Banda, Sogah, Nartey and Fataw were each granted 15 million cedis bail with two sureties while the rest were remanded in custody to re-appear on October 26.

Chief Inspector Daniel Okpoti told the tribunal chaired by Mr Ringo Cass Azumah that on September 12, this year, Annan and Kwaming were detailed to guard Akasanoma and Tarzan warehouses at Tema where quantities of cocoa bags meant for export have been kept.

He said on the same day, Annan, Kwaming and Osape met at site two in Tema and allegedly conspired to steal some cocoa beans. Afterwards, Osape approached Narh for a vehicle to convey the cocoa beans from the warehouse.

Fataw and Osape contacted Nartey who led them to see Banda and Sogah for the cocoa beans to be conveyed for a fee of 200,000 cedis.

The prosecution said at the dawn of September 13, Annan opened the warehouse for the 111 bags of cocoa beans to be loaded on a vehicle driven by Banda under the supervision of Kwaming.

The cocoa beans were then discharged into a yard at Site two to be conveyed to Kade. Chief Inspector Okpoti said Osape paid 100,000 cedis to Annan and Kwaming and after receiving the money, Narh who was on duty at Saturns warehouse near the Tarzan warehouse, collected 10,000 cedis from Kwaming as his share.

Osape later gave 195,000 cedis to Banda as his share but the accused was arrested upon a tip off before they could transport the 111 bags of cocoa from Site Two to Kade.