Ejisu (Ash), Feb. 23, GNA - A magistrate's court at Ejisu on Wednesday granted bail totalling 300 million cedis to 10 persons accused of conspiracy to steal and stealing.

The accused persons who all pleaded guilty will re-appear on March 15.

They are accused of stealing assorted drugs belonging to Aspee Pharmaceuticals Company Limited, their employers, valued at about 58.9 million cedis.

They are Osei Owusu, 25, Akwasi Owusu, 24, Osei Kofi, 27, Yaw Mike 28, Kwabena Davies, 26, Oppong Atta, 25, Kwadwo Tawiah 28, Atta Nii, 29, Kwaku Fokuo, 28 and Bismark Sarpong, 27.

Police Inspector Nkansah Twumasi Ankrah told the court presided over by Mr Noble Nkrumah that Mr Kwadwo Amponsah, the complainant was the owner of Aspee Pharmaceutical Company Limited at Ejisu. Inspector Twumasi Ankrah said the complainant detected constant shortages of drugs, which baffled him and asked the accused persons whether they knew something about it but they all denied any knowledge about the shortages.

He said on January 25, the complainant went to Asafo in Kumasi and entered a pharmacy shop where he saw some of his products and their logo but did not bear any number.

Inspector Twumasi Ankrah said the complainant then returned to Ejisu and confronted Osei Owusu and Akwsi Owusu who were the distributors and this led to the arrest of the others who confessed to stealing the drugs and sold them to Patience Boateng and Nimo Sarpong who have a pharmacy shops in Kumai.

He aid the two were later arrested by the Ejisu police for dishonestly receiving the stolen items. They were also granted 15 million cedis bail each and will also appear on March 15.