Asamankese, May 30, GNA- Colon Mark, a-28-year-old Suhum District Manager of Adwumapa Cocoa Buying Company, on Friday appeared before the Asamankese Circuit Court charged with stealing GH¢10,440 belonging to the company.

He pleaded guilty with explanation and was granted a GH¢10,000 bail with two sureties, one of whom must be identified by the police and to re-appear on June 16. Charged with Mark were four purchasing clerks, who received various sums of money from him. The four are Raphael Marteye Doku, 54, Issah Ibrahim, 36, Yirenkyi Williams, 27, and Ameyaw Hayford, 36. Ameyaw explained that he had refunded the GH¢475 he took to the company and on that was acquitted and discharged. The court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Williams, who was not in court.

Raphael and Issah were granted bail in the sum of GH¢600 with one surety each to re-appear on June 11. Police Chief Inspector Ben Brew, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah that the area manager of the company at Suhum in December 2007, gave GH¢10,440 to Mark to be given to his purchasing clerks to buy dried cocoa beans for the company. He said in April this year, the record books of Mark was audited and it was found out that he purchased 2,608 bags of dried beans, leaving a difference of 168 bags amounting to GH¢12,600, which could not be accounted for.

Mark later went into hiding until May 22 when he resurfaced and was arrested and handed over to the police. During police investigation, Mark told the police that he gave GH¢296 to Rephael, GH¢296 to Issah, GH¢236 to Yirenkyi and GH¢475 to Ameyaw, all totalling GH¢1,110, thus remaining GH¢11,489, which he could still not account for.