Olam employee fined for dishonesty

The District Officer of the Bogoso branch of Olam Ghana Limited, Isaac Arthur, has been fined GH?930 by a Tarkwa Circuit Court for dishonestly receiving 180 bags of cocoa.

He pleaded not guilty.

Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Obeng Diawuo, that the complainant is the area manager of Daiby Company Limited in Bogoso, while the first accused who is now at large is the district manager in the same company and the second accused Isaac Arthur both lived and worked in Bogoso.

He said at the end of the 2010-2011 cocoa seasons, the first accused submitted a report to the complainant indicating that an amount of GH?17,200.00 being the cost of 86 bags of cocoa was given to purchasing officers to procure cocoa which are yet to be accounted for.

Inspector Amponsah said the complainant further stated that 203 bags of cocoa valued GH?40,600 had been heaped at the company’s depot at Petopom near Bogoso awaiting to be evacuated to the port.

He said based on this report, the complainant went to the depot to verify but to his surprise there was no cocoa at the depot.

Inspector Amponsah said during that same period, 2000 bags of fertilizer amounting to GH?50,000 was supplied to the first accused to be sold to farmers but he was able to account for GH?19,082.00 of the amount.

He said on May 6, 2011, the complainant made a report to the police and in the course of investigation it was detected that the first accused sold unspecified number of cocoa bags to the second accused person.

Inspector Amponsah said one Emmanuel Cobbinah an employee of the second accused told the police he sent 30 bags of cocoa from Diaby Ghana Limited depot at Petapom to OLAM Ghana Limited depot at Bogoso with the company’s Kia truck on April 9.

He said on 25 April, Cobbinah said he used the same vehicle to convey additional 150 bags of cocoa from their company to the same destination under the supervision of both accused persons.

The Prosecutor said on May 23, Emmanuel Cobbinah was arrested and during interrogation, he identified the second accused as the person who instructed him to convey a total of 180 bags of cocoa to his depot.

Inspector Amponsah said efforts are being made to locate the where about of the first accused person.**