Twifo Praso (C/R) Jan.20, GNA-Two labourers of the Olam Cocoa Buying Company at Twifo-Praso, who stole five bags of cocoa valued at 2.8 million cedis belonging to their employers, were on Tuesday sentenced to a total of seven years imprisonment, by a district magistrate's court at Twifo-Praso.

Kwesi Kuma, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal, unlawful entry and stealing was sentenced to three years, while Ato Wuni who also pleaded guilty to three similar charges in addition to threat of harm, had four years.

Prosecuting, chief inspector George Okine, told the court, presided over by Mr Joseph Blay that on December 23 last year, Kuma, Wuni and two others, currently on the run, broke into the company's depot and stole five bags of cocoa.

He said while they were carrying their booty to a hideout, one, Mr Believer Kofi Tetteh, spotted them and raised the alarm, and the four, took to their heels, but Mr Tetteh and his children managed to arrest Kuma.

Wuni, then pulled out a cutlass, threatened Mr Tetteh and his family and bolted, but was arrested eight days later, Inspector Okine said.

He said during stocktaking by the company as part of investigations, it was realised that the company was short of 55 bags of cocoa.