Cocoa purchasing clerk on stealing charge

Takoradi June 11, GNA - Abraham Mensah, a 29-year old cocoa purchasing clerk at Wassa Mampong in the Western Region, on Thursday appeared before a circuit court at Takoradi charged with stealing 25,312,500 cedis belonging to Federated Commodities, a cocoa buying company.

Mensah, who pleaded not guilty was granted a five million cedi bail to re-appear on July 7, this year.

Police Superintendent Jessie Borquaye told the court that the company gave a total of 59,620,500 cedis to Mensah between the 2003 and 2004 cocoa seasons to purchase 105 bags of the produce. She said the accused was able to purchase 60 bags at a cost of 33,750,000 cedis by January 2004.

Superintendent Borquaye said Peter Sarpong, Marketing Officer of the company summoned the accused to his office to recover the remaining 44 bags of cocoa estimated at 25,312,500 cedis. She said the accused bolted after receiving the summons and Mr Sarpong made a report to the Police. Superintendent Borquaye said Mensah was arrested at Akuse on April 6 this year, following the publication of his photograph in an Accra daily.

According to the prosecution the accused could not account for the 25,312,500 cedis during interrogations.