Tema, March 10, GNA- A car dealer who is alleged to have stolen three unregistered cars valued at 11,500 US dollars was on Wednesday granted 100 million cedis bail by the Tema Circuit Court "B".

John Mante pleaded not guilty for stealing Toyota Tercel, VW Jetta and Chevy Metro, property of Mr Darlington Otibu.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Edith Nutakor told the court that in June 2001, Mr Otibu who is a Ghanaian businessman resident in the United States visited Ghana and met the accused who introduced himself as a clearing agent with Baltic Freight Service in Tema.

She said after some discussion they came together to do business in Ghana.

The prosecution said Mr Otibu in July 2002, shipped four cars including those mentioned in the charge to Mante to be sold and deduct the cost price of 11,500 dollars so that they shared the profit equally between them.

Chief Inspector Nutakor said on December 16, 2003, Mr Otibu visited Ghana during which he asked the accused about the vehicle, and the accused told the Complainant that he had sold three of the vehicles, but the fourth one had been confiscated by the government, because he had no money to pay the customs duty.

She said on January 8, 2004, Mr Otibu reported the case to the Tema Regional CID and accused was arrested. Two of the cars have been recovered, the prosecution said.