Takoradi, June 10, GNA - Abraham Mensah, a 29-year-old Cocoa Purchasing Clerk at Wassa Mampong, on Thursday appeared before a Takoradi Circuit Court for allegedly stealing 25.3 million cedis belonging to Federated Commodities (FCL), a private licensed cocoa buying company.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to stealing, was granted bail in the sum of five million cedis to re-appear on July 7, this year. Prosecuting, Police Superintendent Jessie Borquaye, told the Court that the company gave a total amount of 59.6 million cedis to Mensah to buy 105 bags of cocoa during the 2003 and 2004 season. She said the accused purchased 60 bags at 33.7 million cedis as at January 2004.

Superintendent Borquaye said Peter Sarpong, Marketing Officer of the FCL, summoned the accused to his office to account for the rest of the money but Mensah bolted after receiving the summons. Subsequently, the company caused Mensah's photographs to be published in the newspapers in April this year, leading to his arrest by the Police at Akuse.