Cape Coast, April 22, GNA - Kojo Awortwi, a 45-year-old mason from Yamoransa, was on Tuesday remanded by a circuit court in Cape Coast for allegedly stealing seven bags of cement meant for the construction of a police station in the town.

He pleaded not guilty and is to reappear on May 5. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Hope Azasoo told the court that in October 2007 Awortwi was engaged as one of the masons for the construction of a police station at Yamoransa.

He said the nature of the work gave Awortwi access to the storeroom where the building materials were kept. Chief Inspector Azasoo alleged that a few weeks later, the contractor saw Awortwi moulding blocks at another site and asked him where he got the cement from since cement was scarce at that time.

The contractor gave Awortwi GH¢35 to buy five bags of cement but Awortwi failed to produce the cement and this generated into a confrontation between the two. When the contractor went to take stock of the building materials, he discovered that seven bags of the cement had been stolen and investigations led to Awortwi's arrest.