The Tema Circuit Court ‘A’ on Thursday, granted bail in the sum of GHc20,000 to eight persons for defrauding a business woman of 1,000 crates of malt, a non alcoholic beverage, valued at GHc40,000.

The eight accused persons are; Emmanuel Ekow Pinkrah, Joseph Sekyi, Joseph Ebo Anokye-Syllas, Nana Isaac Acheampong, Kwame Yeboah, Ahmed Yakubu Coffie, Osei Akwasi Boakye and Abena Kwatema.

Pinkrah, unemployed, Sekyi-a farmer and Anokye-Syllas - a businessman, pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretences.

Coffie, Boakye and Kwatema, all traders, also pleaded not guilty to the charge of dishonestly receiving.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Lydia Osei-Marfo, granted them the bail with two sureties each to re-appear in court on May 15.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stanley Dzakpasu, prosecuting, told the court that in August last year, Pinkrah, Sekyi, together with Acheampong and Yeboah who are at large, met at the Accra Mall, where they conspired to defraud Madam Beatrice Agyeiwaah, the complainant.

ASP Dzakpasu added that Anokye-Syllas, who is the owner of Jes Financial Services, agreed that his office premises at Tema Community Eight should be used for the scheme after the four accused persons had a meeting with him.

The facts stated that on August 30, 2013, at about 1900 hours, with the assistance of Pinkrah and Yeboah, complainant supplied 1,000 crates of Malta Guinness valued at GHc40,000 to the accused persons in front of Anokye-Syllas office where complainant was directed to for the transaction.

According to the prosecutor, after the supply, Pinkrah, Sekyi, Acheampong and Yeboah transported all the 1,000 crates to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region where they sold 270 to Coffie, who is the owner of Yak Ventures, another 200 and 480 crates were also sold to Boakye and Kwatema respectively.

He stated that all the accused persons shared the proceeds after selling the 1,000 crates of Malta Guinness.

ASP Dzakpasu added that the complainant who went back to Anokye-Syllas office to collect her money met the place locked and every effort to contact the accused persons proved futile.

The prosecutor indicated that, on September 16, 2013, the complainant made a report to the Police which led to arrest of Anokye-Syllas who led the Police to arrest Sekyi and Pinkrah.