Trader granted bail for stealing

Kofi Badu Esson, a trader was on Tuesday granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court for stealing an amount of GH¢ 7,240.00, belonging to one Benneth. Kofi was granted bail in the sum of GH¢10,000.00 with two sureties, one to be a public officer, and is to reappear before the court on July 28.

Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Tassan told the court that the complainant is a shop assistant, while the accused is a trader and sells shoes at Tudu, Accra. He said on July 30, the complainant was sent to Ghana Commercial Bank, Liberty Avenue branch with an amount of GH¢ 7,240.00 to be deposited into the accounts of his manager.

He said at the banking hall, the accused who was neatly dressed in a blue shirt with a tie to match approached the complainant and introduced himself to him as a staff of the bank, who has been tasked to assist customers to fast track their cash deposit. The prosecution said the accused person then collected the money and having filled the deposit form, intentionally entered the bank manager’s office for the complainant to believe that he works at the bank.

Police Chief Inspector Tassan said unknown to the complainant, the accused person quickly came out and headed towards the exit of the banking hall with the money. He said luck eluded him when one Joseph Nyarko, whom the accused person had used same modus operadi to steal his money, an amount of GH¢ 1,500.00 on January 7, at the same branch met him at the entrance and identified him to the security man on duty and he was arrested.

He said a search conducted on him disclosed an amount of GH¢7,240.00. The Complainant came out of the banking hall, claimed ownership of the money and identified the accused person as the one who collected his money at the banking hall. Police Chief Inspector Tassan said the accused was subsequently handed over to the police, and investigations are underway.