Seventeen remanded for re-bagging inferior rice
Manager before tribunal for issuing dud cheque
Seventeen remanded for re-bagging inferior rice
Accra (Greater Accra), 30th December 99
An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Wednesday remanded 17 foreign nationals who allegedly rebagged inferior rice for sale during the Christmas holidays.
They were charged with conspiracy, deception of consumers under the Food and Drug Law as well as being prohibited immigrants.
The Malian and Nigerian accused persons are watchmen and porters and aged between 18 and 54 years. They all pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody to re-appear on January six, next year.
The tribunal, chaired by Mr. Charles Nyewolema, refused them bail on the rounds that "looking closely at the demeanour or their appearance, and with their not having any fixed abode, the tribunal felt they could not be traced if bail was granted them.
Police Detective Chief Inspector Edward C. Antwi told the tribunal that the police were tipped that some foreign nationals, notably Malians and Nigerians, were engaged in re-bagging rice in a suspicious manner in a warehouse at Okaishie in Accra.
Chief Inspector Antwi said the police met them in a warehouse busily re-bagging rice, apparently of inferior quality, from bigger bags into smaller sachets.
He said the accused persons in their mode of operation applied Dinor cooking oil to the rice before re-bagging, adding that, in this way, the inferior rice would seem to have a good quality scent and flavour.
GRi
Manager before tribunal for issuing dud cheque
Accra (Greater Accra), 30th December 99
Vidal Buckle Azu, Manager of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) company at La in Accra, on Wednesday appeared before a circuit tribunal in Accra, for allegedly issuing eight dud cheques totalling 99 million cedis in 20 days which were all dishonoured by the La Community Bank.
Azu, 49, pleaded not guilty to issuing dud cheques and was granted five million cedis bail with one surety, to reappear on January 19, 2000.
Prosecuting, Police Inspector Emmanuel Tawiah Boison told the tribunal chaired by Mr. Charles Nyewolema that the complainant, Mr. Emmanuel Aning, is the General Manager of Tropical Oil Limited, distributors of LPG.
Inspector Boison said Azu bought 99 million cedis worth of LPG between September five and October 25 from Mr. Aning and issued eight cheques totalling 99 million cedis drawn on the La Community Bank.
He said when the complainant presented them at the bank, they were all dishonoured upon which lodged a complain with the police leading to the arrest of Azu.
GRi