Kyebi (E/R), May 6, GNA - The Magistrate court at Kyebi on Thursday remanded three cocoa purchasing clerks who adjusted weighing scales to cheat cocoa farmers.

Emmanuel Kumi Okai of Potroase Kuapa Cocoa Limited, Daniel R. Abrokwa of Akyem-Akropong Trans-Royal Company and Seth Oteng Adjei of Akyem Amanfrom Kuapa Kokoo Limited were charged with stealing. Their pleas were not taken and they would reappear on Tuesday, 11 May.

Prosecuting, Inspector Kofi Akuamoah Boateng said in February this year, some staff of Ghana Standard Board and officials of the East Akim District Assembly detected that the accused persons had adjusted their scales to cheat farmers.

He said the accused persons were warned against the practice and asked to readjust the weighing scales.

Insp. Boateng said on May 4, the staff of the Standard Board and the District Assembly released that the accused persons were still working with the falsified scales.

Inspector Boateng asked the court to remand the accused persons into police custody to enable the police complete their investigations.

Asking for bail, Counsel for the accused persons, Mr Kweku Frimpong argued that no farmer had complained that any of the accused persons had stolen his cocoa beans.

He said, inferring from the prosecution, the accused persons only refused to carry out the order of the Ghana Standard Board officials. Mr Frimpong argued that, the charge levelled against the accused persons was not a case for which they should be remanded in police custody.

He, therefore, pleaded with the court to grant them bail and gave the promise that, they would co-operate with the police and appear before the court anytime they were needed.

Refusing bail, the presiding Magistrate, Mr Charles B. Nimako said human rights is not an ideology that could apply to one section of society and inapplicable to others.

He argued that, it is only when the police fail to prove the charge that it could be said to be misplaced, but if proven, it could be said that the accused persons had stolen the property of unknown persons.

Mr Nimako urged the police to work fast to complete its investigations before the next appearance of the accused persons and warned that he would not tolerate any plea for extension of the remand.