Enchi (W/R), Dec. 24 GNA - Kwaw Tandoh, 29, was on Thursday remanded into prison custody by the Enchi Magistrate's court for stealing 56.2 million Cedis belonging to the Produce Buying Company (PBC). He pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and stealing.

Prosecuting, Police Detective Chief Inspector Kwadwo Ahenkorah told the court presided over by Mr Kwabena Mensah that, on November 17, this year, Bismark Brentu, the complainant, a purchasing clerk of the PBC at New Yaakese near Enchi withdrew the money from a bank for the payment of cocoa purchases.

Brentu kept the money in a bag and hid it in his bedroom. On that day, the accused, who is unemployed and an intimate friend of Brentu went to inform him (Brentu) that his wife, who lives at old Yaakese was seriously ill.

As soon as Brentu left the town to visit his wife at old Yaakese, the accused went to the house of Brentu, broke into his room and stole the money.

Investigations led to the arrest of the accused and when he was searched, two million cedis was found on him. 18 million cedis being part of the stolen money, which he kept in his mother's bedroom was retrieved.

The Presiding Magistrate ordered that the accused be made to stand trial at a circuit court for higher sentence, when he reappears before the court again on January 12, 2005.

At the same court, Godfred Allou, alias Shawoo, 23 and Kwasi Ampofo, 25 both cocoa depot labourers were remanded in prison custody for allegedly stealing eight bags of dried cocoa bean valued at four point five million cedis, the property of Adwumapa Cocoa Buying Company at Abokyia near Enchi.

They pleaded guilty to the charge.

Chief Inspector Ahenkorah told the Court that Oheneba Kwabena Frimpong, District Manager of the Company reported the loss of the cocoa beans to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the two, who admitted the crime.

They would reappear before the court on January 12, 2005 for sentencing.