Benson Adu Gyamera, an akpeteshie distiller, who duped two persons of about ?9.2 million, on the pretext of supplying them with dry cocoa beans has been convicted by a Bekwai circuit court. Gyamera pleaded guilty with explanation to one of two counts of fraud for which he was convicted.

He is however to reappear to answer charges on the second count. He was asked by the court, presided over by Mr S.F. Manu, to refund ?4,552,000 to one of his victims or in default serve five years imprisonment with hard labour.

Prosecuting, Inspector A.T. Awatey of the Anhwia-Nkwanta Police, told the court that the complainant, Sylvester Oti, is a cocoa-purchasing clerk attached to OLAM, a cocoa purchasing company at Atoakrom, in the Amansie-East District. He said Gyamera is an akpeteshie distiller who lived at Deduako, near Antoakrom.

Inspector Awatey said during the 1999-2000 cocoa season, Gyamera visited Oti and in a conversation, Gyamera indicated that he could purchase large quantities of dry cocoa beans for Mr Oti if he could give him an amount of ?4,552,000. On the basis of this, Mr Oti parted with the amount in anticipation of 30 bags of cocoa beans.

Gyamera allegedly bolted after collecting the money until 3 April this year when he was arrested by the Anwhia-Nkwanta Police and remanded in prison custody in Kumasi.

In the second case, Inspector Awatey told the court that the complainant is Mark Owusu Amponsah, a district officer for the Royal Commodities, also a cocoa purchasing company. He said in that case Gyamera took ?4,658,000, covering 17 bags of dry cocoa beans on 22 November 2001 with the promise of supplying the beans when the cocoa season opened.

Gyamera allegedly failed to supply the beans but bolted and went into hiding. According to Inspector Awatey, Gyamera was arrested on 13 March at a hide out at Duabenekrom near Takoradi. He admitted taking the money but explained that his family went into an agreement with Mr Oti and he had accepted to refund the ?4,522,000 to him.

He therefore appealed to the court to deal leniently with him but his pleas were rejected. Mr Manu however, told him that he would be discharged the very moment he refunds the money to Mr Oti.