Two employees of Rambel Lotto face tribunal

Kumasi, Sept. 21, GNA - Two employees of Rambell Lotto have appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Tribunal on four counts of conspiracy to defraud, attempting to defraud the company in the sum of 3.8 million cedis, forgery of documents and abetment of crime.

Antwi Agyei, a clerk of the company, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud, attempting to defraud and abetment of crime. Kwadwo Brentuo, a sub-agent of the company based at Agogo-Asante-Akyem also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud, attempting to defraud and forging documents. Each of them was granted five million cedis bail with a surety each to be justified.

The case was adjourned to Thursday, October seven. Police Chief Inspector Fabian K. Afesi, prosecuting, told the tribunal chaired by Mr Joseph A. Abanga, that Mr Francis Kyei, Managing Director of the company, detailed Agyei and some other members of staff to collect sold lotto booklets from Konongo, Agogo and Juaso areas.

Chief Inspector Afesi said on August 21, this year, the two accused persons conspired to defraud the company by inserting winning numbers onto blank leaflets in the booklets. He said a week later, after Agyei had collected sold booklets from Brentuo, he (Brentuo) kept one of the booklets and hired a taxi from Konongo to Kumasi.

On the way, the taxi stopped and Brentuo took out the booklet and inserted three winning numbers, 70-44-5 after the day's draw in the blank booklet. The prosecutor said after this another taxi occupied by Agyei and other occupants stopped near Brentuo and Agyei collected the booklet with the winnings from Brentuo and added it to those he had already collected to Kumasi.

Chief Inspector Afesi said the management of Rambell Lotto was informed of the deal and when Brentuo arrived to collect the money for the winning tickets he was arrested and sent to the police Striking Force in Kumasi. He said Brentuo mentioned Agyei as an accomplice and after investigations they were charged with the offence.