A 24-year-old sales agent at the Mile 8 branch of Obrempong Cold Store in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labor for dishonestly appropriating his employer’s cash.
Kelvin Ofori Sakyi was alleged to have used GH¢75,895.00 for soccer betting, which led to his conviction by the Tarkwa Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu.
He pleaded guilty to the offense and was sentenced accordingly.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joyce Odame, prosecuting, told the court that the complainant, Priscilla Aidoo, is the manageress at the Mile 8 branch of Obrempong Cold Store, and she resides in the same community.
She said that although Sakyi had other duties, he received frozen products from the complainant daily.
ASP Odame stated that the complainant noticed that whenever Sakyi rendered sales accounts after the day’s work and there was a shortage, he claimed customers had bought the products on credit.
According to the prosecutor, an audit was conducted to verify the claims regarding customers Sakyi had indicated as owing the company or having paid their debts to him via mobile money or cash.
The audit revealed that, during the months of October and November 2023, Sakyi could not account for the sales of frozen products valued at GH¢75,895.00, which had been entrusted to him.
A complaint was filed against him, and he was subsequently arrested by the police. Investigations revealed that he had used the unaccounted amount mainly for soccer betting.
The prosecution stated that Sakyi’s mobile money transaction history, obtained from MTN, indicated that from October to November 2023, he spent a total amount of GH¢75,173.00 on soccer betting. He admitted this in his investigative caution statement.