Ashaiman circuit court grants three persons GHS50,000 bail each

The Ashaiman circuit court has granted three accused persons held before it to a GHS50,000 bail each.

The trio, Charles Bartels, Samuel Tetteh and Eric Oseiku Kwablah who were charged on separate counts of five including conspiracy to commit crime namely, stealing contrary to section 23(1) of the criminal offences Act,1960 (Act 29),count two, stealing contrary to section 124(1) of the criminal offences Act,1960 (Act 29)and on count three,stealing contrary to section 124(1) of the criminal offences Act,1960(Act 29).

On count four, abetment of crime contrary to section 20 of the criminal offences Act,1960 (Act 29) and stealing contrary to section 124(1) of the criminal offences Act,1960 (Act 29).

The accused persons were granted bail on conditions of justifying their respective sureties.

Prior to granting their bail plea, the court presided over by His Honour Simon Gaga remarked "having listened to counsel for A1-A3 praying for bail and the prosecutor not oppose to same, A1-A3 are granted bail in the sum GHS50,000 each". Prosecution is ordered to file witness statement before the next adjourned date of 12 June,2023.

Presecution: Chief Inspector B. Ayeh presenting the D/SGT. Kingsley Kwarteng Investigative case told the court that the complainant, Seidu Sumaila is the Accountant of Sekaf Ghana Limited, dealers of massaging oil in Tema. 1st and 2nd accused persons Charles Bartels and Samuel Tetteh are security guards of Sekaf Ghana Limited. 3rd accused Eric Oseiku Kwablah being the Production Manager of the company, whilst their accomplices Emma and two others now at large.

Chief Inspector B. Ayeh told the court that on 12/05/2022, the complainant detected lorry tyre marks in the company's warehouse.

She said upon seeing that, the complainant asked the warehouse supervisor to take stock of the goods in the warehouse.

Chief Inspector B. Ayeh further told the court that the 1st accused person who was on duty at the main gate upon hearing that stock was going to be taken in the warehouse deserted his post to an unknown destination.

Complainant after taking the stock detected that eleven (11) barrels of shea oil valued at GHS34,133.00 have been stolen from the company's warehouse and made a report to police.

Chief Inspector B. Ayeh told the court that whilst the case was under investigations, on Monday 19 December,2022, the complainant detected that padlocks to the metal gate of the warehouse were damaged and when they again took a stock, 18 barrels of shea oil were stolen from the warehouse.

On 10/03/23, the 1st accused was arrested at a spot in Tema Community 4. During investigations, the accused admitted having agreed with 2nd accused and suspect Emma at large to appropriate eleven (11) barrels of shea oil from the company.

On 14/04/2023, the 2nd accused was also arrested from his hideout at community 11, Tema and during investigations, he also admitted having conspired with 1st, 3rd and suspect Emma to appropriate eleven (11) and eighteen (18) barrels respectively. Chief Inspector B. Ayeh told the court that on the same day, 3rd accused person was also arrested.

She told the court that further investigations revealed that in May,2021, the 2nd accused person who was employed as a security guard for the company was approached by the 3rd accused person that he should allow him transport some of the oil of the company outside and that he will get him share of the booty.

Investigations further revealed that the 3rd accused dishonestly appropriated three(3) barrels of shea oil valued at GHS9,309 from the company's warehouse and after the sales of the three barrels, he gave the 2nd accused person GHS200 as his share of the booty.

2nd accused person who felt cheated conspired with 1st accused who was on duty at the gate and suspect Emma and they fishonestly appropriated 29 barrels respectively from the company's warehouse.

Accused persons however failed to assist Police to retrieve the exhibits. After investigations, the accused persons were charged with the offence and brought before the honourable court.