Enchi (W/R), Dec. 24, GNA - A magistrate's court at Enchi, in the Western Region, on Thursday committed Kwaw Tandoh, 29, a self-confessed thief for sentence at a higher court for stealing 56.2 million cedis belonging to the Produce Buying Company (PBC).

The court presided over by Mr Kwabena Mensah ordered that Tandoh who pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and stealing the money be put before a circuit court on January 12 next year for a severe punishment. Police Detective Chief Inspector Kwadwo Ahenkorah had told the court that on November 17 this year, Bismark Brentu, a purchasing clerk of the PBC at New Yaakese near Enchi withdrew the money from the bank for cocoa purchases.

Brentu kept the money in a bag and hid it in his bedroom. On the same day, Tandoh, unemployed, an intimate friend, went to inform Brentu that his wife who lived at Old Yaakese was seriously ill. As soon as Brentu left the town to visit his wife at Old Yaakese, the accused went to Brentu's house, broke into his room and stole the money.

An investigation led to Tandoh's arrest and during a search two million cedis was found on him.

Eighteen million cedis being part of the stolen money, which he had kept in his mother's bedroom was also retrieved, the prosecution said. At the same court, Godfred Allou, alias Shawoo, 23 and Kwasi Ampofo, 25, both cocoa depot labourers were remanded for stealing eight bags of dried cocoa bean valued at 4.5 million cedis, belonging to the Adwumapa Cocoa Buying Company at Abokyia near Enchi. They pleaded guilty.

Chief Inspector Ahenkorah told the Court that Oheneba Kwabena Frimpong, District Manager of the Company reported the loss of the cocoa to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the two who admitted the crime. They will be brought before the court again on January 12, next year, for sentence.