Kumasi, Feb. 17, GNA - A Kumasi circuit court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the Manager of the Bia-Toya Rural Bank in the Western Region for his alleged complicity in a case, in which two cocoa purchasing clerks of the Dio-Jean Company, a Licensed cocoa Buying Company in Kumasi, forged a cheque and cashed an amount of 225 million cedis belonging to the company.

The court also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Charles Arthur, a purchasing clerk and one of the accomplices who had bolted. Isaac Addai, the other purchasing clerk, who pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing when he appeared before the court, was remanded in prison custody to re-appear on March 2.

Chief Inspector Margaret Damalie told the court that on February 2, this year, the two clerks were issued with a cheque for 9.5 million cedis to cash at the said bank and then proceed to Sefwi-Bodi in the Western Region and transport 400 bags of cocoa to Kumasi.

Instead, the prosecutor said, the two clerks rather forged a cheque of 225 million cedis and with the alleged connivance of the bank manager, cashed the money and proceeded to the Sefwi-Bodi depot where they succeeded in convincing the night watchman, collected 385 bags of cocoa and bolted with them.

Chief Inspector Damalie said luck run out on them as Addai was traced to his hideout at Nnadieso, which marks the boundary between Ashanti and Eastern Region, whilst the search for Arthur continued. She said during interrogation, Addai told the police that they had sold the cocoa and also named the Manager as their accomplice.