Akim Swedru (E/R), May 18, GNA - A 71-year-old purchasing clerk of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) at Akim Ofoase in the Birim North District, Nana Kwesi Oppong, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Akim Swedru circuit court for defrauding the company of 66 million cedis. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Osei Nimo told the court, presided over by Mr George Kinsgly Koomson that, in May, last year, Oppong collected the amount from the branch Manager to purchase cocoa but after collecting the amount, Oppong vacated his post and went into hiding. The prosecutor said the case was reported to the Akim Ofoase police who later arrested Oppong and charged him with the offence. Oppong told the court that he managed to buy 81 bags of cocoa from October to December 2003, but fell sick and used the rest of the money for his medical bill.

In passing sentence, the court ordered that the cocoa Oppong claimed to have bought should be assessed and the cost deducted from the amount for him to refund the balance to the company.