Salesman accused of misappropriating company’s GH¢111,591

Samuel Kwasi Hlo, a sales­man accused of misappropri­ating GH¢111,591 belonging to Auto Avenue Enterprise, has appeared before the Circuit Court at Dansoman, Accra.

Hlo is also said to have stolen auto parts totalling GH¢144,313 belonging to the firm.

The salesman, who has been also charged with two counts of stealing, has pleaded not guilty.

The court, presided over by Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, admitted accused to GH¢300,000 bail with three sureties, two of whom must be public servants earning not less than GH¢5,000.

The sureties must live within the jurisdiction of the court, one of whom must justify the bail with immovable property with title deeds, worth the value of the bail sum.

The accused is also to deposit his Ghana Card at the registry of the court and report once every week.

The court directed the prosecu­tion to file disclosures and witness statements, and adjourned the matter to March 7.

Prosecution, led by Chief In­

 spector Kwadwo Aboagye, said the complainant, Makella Amevenu, is the Managing Director of Auto Avenue Enterprise, and deals in assorted auto parts at Dansoman Exhibition Roundabout.

The court heard that accused, Samuel Kwasi Hlo, was working as salesman of the company for the past seven years.

Chief Insp Aboagye stated that 2023, accused brought his son to work at company without the knowledge or consent of manage­ment.

This action brought a misun­derstanding between accused and the company’s driver, leading to the suspension of accused by the management.

Chief Insp Aboagye further indicated that the management car­ried out an audit of the company’s accounts in 2021 and 2023.

The court heard that the audit revealed that the stock issued to the accused, valued at GH¢111,591.40, could not be traced or accounted for, and cash of GH¢144,313.90, which were monies paid to the accused by customers, were also missing and he could not account for same.

Chief Insp Aboagye revealed that accused was arrested and handed over to the Dansoman po­lice, and granted police enquiry bail to sit with the management to do a reconciliation of the accounts.

“The audit work commenced and at a point, the accused realised the funds he had misappropriat­ed,” the prosecution disclosed.

Chief Insp Aboagye said accused jumped bail and went into hiding, and his surety was served with a forfeiture to produce him.

The prosecution said the surety produced accused.