Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - A baker said to have visited three shops, purchased items totalling GH 66,000 cedis and bolted without paying for them on Thursday appeared before a Circuit Court in Accra charged with stealing. Benedicta Dwamena pleaded not guilty to three separate charges of stealing.

The court presided over by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills however remanded her into police custody to reappear on January 13. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Abavelim, the prosecutor told the court that on August 1, last year accused went to Mr David Asante Ababio's shop at Ashaley Botwe in Accra and negotiated to purchase sets of furniture and other household items all totalling GH 30,600 cedis.

When Benedicta went to the shop, she did not meet Mr Ababio the complainant. She however took his telephone number from the salesman and later invited him to a house at East Legon. The suspect informed Mr Ababio that she had rented the two story building for her brother who was returning from America and she needed to furnish the house. ASP Abavelim said after inspecting the house together with complainant, Benedicta brought along two KIA trucks and collected the items including furniture, televisions sets, air conditioners and generators. While Mr Ababio was preparing the invoice on the items, Benedicta instructed the drivers to leave, while she collected the invoice and effected payment but she disappeared. On December 24, last year she was arrested by the Police on a similar offence and the complainant and the driver whom she hired identified her.

Prosecution said on October 24, 2008 Benedicta went to New Weija and succeeded in stealing 600 pieces of assorted plywood valued at GH 4,600 cedis through the same means. The prosecutor said on December 23, 2008, Benedicta went to Asante and Asante Company Limited at Madina and bought nestle products totalling GH 30,809 cedis. Benedicta after taking delivery of the items, offered to pay for them with a cheque which was refused.

Prosecution said the salesman Leonard Abroquah therefore requested that she paid for the goods with cash. Benedicta asked Mr Abroquah to follow her to a Pharmacy shop at Ashaley Botwe Junction where the goods were offloaded. Benedicta asked the salesman to follow her to a friend's house for the money. On reaching the house Benedicta visited the washroom but never returned. When Mr Abroquah went back to the pharmacy shop, Benedicta had already bolted with the goods.