Gabriel Appiah, manager of Fraga Oil at Denu in the Volta Region, was yesterday sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment with hard labour by an Accra Fast Track High Court for stealing.
The court, presided over by Justice Mustpha Habib Logoh, found the manager guilty of stealing GH¢29,886.42 out of the proceeds of the oil sales.
According to the judge, he found the action of the manager reprehensible because the company had established a fuel station and engaged his services as a manager so he could earn an income to make ends meet.
He said instead of complying with the terms of his employment and seeking the welfare of the company, Appiah rather chose to misappropriate proceeds from the sale of the petroleum products there.
Justice Logoh noted that in this era of massive unemployment, managers like the Appiah make it difficult for businesses to expand.
The trial judge said he was going to give the accused a deterring punishment to serve as a warning to persons who run down companies.
Seth Wiafe Dankwa, counsel for the accused person, had earlier pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy and prayed the court not to impose custodial sentence on his client.
The trial judge, in jailing Appiah, said he had taken note of the plea for mitigation by the counsel, and slapped the accused with 11 years with hard labour.
Nii Kpakpo Addo, a state attorney, prosecuting, said the complainant is Emmnauel Sosu Mawuli, the supervising manager of Fraga Oil, while the accused person is the manager of the of the filling station at Denu.
According to him, on March 29, 2013 the company audited the accounts of the Denu fuel station and realized that GH¢29,8886.42 had not been accounted for.
In addition, he stated that the accused person admitted the offence in his caution statement and was charged with the offence after the police had concluded investigations.
By Fidelia Achama
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