A Tarkwa Circuit Court has granted a GHc15,000 bail to Ernest Kateng, 49, a store keeper, for stealing GHc12,046.00 belonging to the Cocoa Inputs Company Limited at Samreboi.

He pleaded not guilty and will re-appear before the court on July 18.

Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided over by Mr Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complainant, Charles Turkson, is the zonal auditor of the Company while the accused is an employee in the same company.

Detective Amponsah said during the year 2012, the accused was given bags of fertilizer to sell.

He said between the month of March and April this year, the company under took a special audit exercise at the complainants store which revealed a shortage of 562 bags of fertilizer, equivalent to GHc18,546.00.

The Prosecution said out of the total amount, the accused made part payment of GHc6,500 to the company, but has since failed to account for GHc12, 046.00 which is equivalent to 365 bags.

He said a complaint was lodged to the police, and the accused was arrested and charged with the offence of stealing.