Businessman faces charge of stealing

A businessman who is accused of presenting a forged letter head from GRIDCO to defraud an Accra based company of GH¢ 30,660.00 has been put before an Accra Circuit Court.

Desmond Appiah, and his two accomplices, are said to have stolen assorted tiles and sanitary wares from Westafco Company Limited located along the Spintex Road in Accra.

Charged with conspiracy to commit crime - forgery and stealing, forgery of documents and stealing - Appiah pleaded not guilty. The accomplices are said to be on the run.

Appiah has, however, been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢ 40,000.00 with three sureties to be justified, who should be two public servants.

He is to reappear on October 15 before the court, presided over by Mr M.E. Essandoh.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Francis Tassan said Mr Abass Chalin, the sales Manager of Westafco Ghana Limited, is the complainant. Westafco deals in assorted tiles, sanitary wares and paints.

On November 19, last year, the prosecutor said Appiah and his accomplices presented a request letter purported to be emanating from GRIDCO requesting for a Pro-forma receipt and samples in relation to procurement contract they had been awarded to supply some sanitary wares and tiles for the company (GRIDCO).

Chief Inspector Tassan said Mr Chalin informed Appiah and his accomplices that until they paid, the items could not be delivered.

According to prosecution, the following day, Appiah and his accomplice returned with a deposit slip for a UniBANK Cheque with face value of GH¢ 30,660.00 claiming to have been paid into Westafco ‘s Access Bank account.

The accused persons and his accomplice succeeded in taking away the items.

However, on the following day, the complainant’s bankers informed him that there was no money in Appiah’s account.

Chief Inspector Tassan said a report was made to the Police and investigations at GRIDCO indicated that there was no such procurement contract and Appiah and his accomplices were not also the staff of GRIDCO.

The prosecutor said the investigations led to Appiah’s arrest and when he was quizzed, he admitted that the cheque belonged to him but denied the offence.