Cocoa-buying company manager jailed five years
A 32-year-old district manager of a licensed cocoa buying company who stole 894 bags of cocoa beans belonging to his employers has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by the Kumasi Circuit Court.
The convict, Louis Adjei, was found guilty by the court, presided over by Mrs Efua Adu-Amankwah, after pleading not guilty to stealing the cocoa beans belonging to Adwumapa Cocoa Buyers Limited.
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He was also ordered by the court to refund the amount involved to his employers.
Sentence
Sentencing Adjei, Mrs Adu-Amankwah said she took into consideration the fact that he was a first-time offender and family man and so sending him away for a long time could affect his family.
She said from the facts and the evidence given throughout the trial, it was clear that the convict’s action of stealing the cocoa was carried out more out of greed than necessity.
“I would not say your action was because you needed the money because you were working and were being paid. But for your children, I would have given a higher sentence to serve as a deterrent to others who abuse the position of trust assigned to them by their employers,” she stated.
According to her, it was evidently clear that the convict abused his position and embezzled the money advanced to him to purchase the cocoa beans.
Background
According to the facts, as presented to the court by Superintendent of Police Mr Emmanuel Akonnor, the convict was the Bibiani District Manager of Adwumapa Cocoa Buying Company Limited.
He said during the 2013 and 2014 cocoa season, Adjei was given GH¢879,800 to purchase 4,150 bags of cocoa beans.
However, he said, Adjei was only able to buy 3,256 bags, valued at GH¢690,272, leaving a balance of 894 bags estimated at GH¢189,528.
Mr Akonnor said on January 17, 2014, the sector manager visited Adjei at the Bibiani Depot and found 315 sealed and 278 unsealed bags of cocoa beans packed at the depot.
On January 21, 2014 when the sector manager went back to the depot, it was discovered that the convict had sold the cocoa beans that had been packed at the depot on his previous visit.
He was thus arrested and handed over to the police.
In his caution statement, he admitted having dishonestly appropriated the 894 bags of cocoa beans but refused to help the police to locate their whereabouts.