By: Barbara Kumah
A Ghanaian businessman, Desmond Theke, has been charged before the Circuit Court, Dansoman, for allegedly stealing GH¢490,600.00 belonging to his Nigerian employer, Solomon Okechukwu.
The accuse, was arraigned before the court, after he failed to account for monies he allegedly stole from business transactions.
He has pleaded not guilty to the offense of stealing contrary to section 124 of the Criminal Offenses Act 1960 (Act 29. He has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢ 500,000 with two sureties, one justified with title deeds equivalent to the bail sum.
He is also to deposit his Ghana Card at the court registry and report once every two weeks to the police until otherwise stated Prosecutor.
The facts as narrated by the prosecution are that, the Complainant, Solomon Okechukwu is a Nigeria national and businessman whiles accused person, Desmond Theke also a businessman and lives in dansoman in the Ablekuma West constituency.
According to prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Emeila Mensah, the Complainant who deals in second hand cloth plies his business between Accra, Togo and other countries in Africa.
The facts narrate that in 2024, the complainant employed Desmond Theke , as a sales person to manage his business in Accra.
The complainant, purportedly imported 240 feeter containers of second hand cloths and handed over same to the accused to be sold in 2024, and also sent some money to the accused person to stock up the shop. On June 11, 2025, complainant arrived in Ghana for a stock taking but Mr. Theke, could not account for both the imported goods, and the money sent to him, following which the complainant reported the incident to the Dansoman Police.
The accused person Desmond Theke, was arrested for investigation on the same day. In the cause of the investigation both parties were advice to either get a professional auditor or a third party to assist them to reconcile the account and stock taking. On June 16, the parties arrived at a total figure of GH¢490,600.00 being the money embezzled by the accused.
The document was duly signed by the complainant, accuse and witnesses who assisted them during the auditing. After investigation, the accused person was charged for the offense.
In court, the judge, madam Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, directed the prosecution to file all disclosures and witness statements for case management conference on August 25.
The judge held that, the case could not be referred to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) since it is a felony offense, but directed that the parties may attempt at a settlement process.
