Tema, March 12, GNA- A driver who managed to cash two stolen cheques valued at 23 million cedis from the Spintex brach of the Standchart was on Thursday remanded into custody by a Tema Circuit Court. Ibrahim Alhassan pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry and stealing and will reappear on March 31, 2004.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Christopher Quaicoo, told the court presided over by Mr Charles Asiedu that on February 13, a night watchman, Sobilla Ayeremusa left his beat at about 0004 hours to see his madam at the Dansoman for money.

He said when the son of the owner of the store Mr Darfour Tenkorang arrived there at 0730 hours to start work, he detected that the office which is located in a container had been broken into, and quickly phoned his mother Madam Georgina Akua Asiedu.

The prosecution said he detected that a safe containing an amount of 14 million cedis and four signed Standchart bank cheques covering various sums of money had been stolen and he reported the matter to the police at Community 18.

Chief Inspector Quaicoo said Mr Tenkorang in the company of one Dorcoo who issued the cheques went to the bank at Spintex road to stop the payment of the stolen cheques; unfortunately someone in the name of Rugby Nukpetor of Hohoe had succeeded to withdraw 12 million with one of the stolen cheques.

The prosecution said on February 19, 2004, Ibrahim Alhassan, and two persons Ibrahim Sannie and Johnson, now at large went to Standchart bank, Ring road Central, Accra and opened an account in the name of the accused and two of the stolen cheques covering 11 million and 12 million cedis were deposited and withdrew 21 million cedis.

Chief Inspector Quaicoo said Johnson managed to escape arrest, however, Ibrahim Alhassan and Ibrahim Sannie were arrested for investigation, adding they were released on police enquiry bail to report later but Sannie managed to escape.