Kumasi, July 16, GNA- The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly circuit court, on Monday remanded James Opoku, 45, Area Manager of the Kuapa Cocoa Company for New Edubiase, for allegedly stealing 696 bags of cocoa, belonging to the company.

Opoku who pleaded not guilty to the charge, would re-appear before the court on Friday, July 18, 2008. Police Chief Inspector Wilfred Salia told the court presided over by Mr. Adjei Frempong that the complainant was the Operations Manager of the company in Kumasi.

Prosecution said between October 2007 and June 2008, the company audited the records of the accused during which it was realised that the 696 bags of cocoa, worth GH¢ 52,750, were missing. Chief Inspector Salia said the accused in his caution statement acknowledged that cocoa was missing but denied knowledge of how it got missing.