A Tarkwa Circuit Court on Thursday granted a 32 year-old purchasing clerk, John Okai, bail in the sum of 10,000 Ghana cedis for defrauding by false pretence.

He pleaded not guilty and will re-appear on December 12.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante, that on November 19 this year, the accused in the company of Akua Mframa and her husband Collins Armoah went to the complainant, Ahmed Opoku Nsiah, the District Manager of the Asankeangwa branch of Armagaro Ghana Limited and informed him that he wanted to work for his company.

He said the complainant than gave 3,500 Ghana cedis to the accused for him to purchase 10 bags of cocoa beans for his firm but he failed to do so.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said on November 26, the accused informed the complainant that he had given the 10 bags of cocoa beans to Seidu Mohammed who is in- charge of vehicle with registration number GW 4571-T to transport them to the company at Asankrangwa.

He said Nsiah gave Okai 2,790 Ghana cedis for him to purchase eight additional bags of cocoa beans but again the accused failed to do so.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the complainant later realized that the accused has been given him false information and reported the matter to the police.

He said on November 28 the accused was arrested and when questioned, he said that he gave the money to some persons namely Kudjo, Agya Mfanta, Maama Mframa and Kofi.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said when the police took the accused to the people he mentioned, only Kudjo admitted that he collected 422 Ghana cedis form the accused but he had already refunded the money to him.

He said during investigations, the police discovered that the allegation made against the three other persons was not true.