Storekeeper blows 330 million cedis over visa deal

Accra, Jan. 14, GNA - A 28-year-old storekeeper who squandered his employer's 330 million cedis through visa contract operation, on Friday appeared before a Circuit Court charged with stealing. Raymond Kwabena Ofori pleaded guilty and the court remanded him in prison custody for sentencing on January 27, this year.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Kofi Abraham said the accused worked with Ofredisco Company Limited, dealers in Mining equipment, spare parts and general goods at Tarkwa and in 2000, the company employed Ofori as the storekeeper under the supervision of the company's managing director for three years.

Prosecution said the company installed a computer that had stock of the items and daily sales were paid to a bank.

In December last year, the company took stock of the items and detected that Ofori had failed to account for spare parts totalling 330 million cedis.

Prosecution said Ofori locked the store and went into hiding in Accra but on January 11, this year, he was arrested at his hide out. During police interrogation, Ofori said he had sold the goods at reduced prices but after accruing some proceeds he gave 86 million cedis to two unidentified visa contractors to secure him Italian visas but they had bolted.