Court issues warrant for arrest of MD

Pages 24/25: Daily Graphic, November 19, 2008.
Story: Albert K. Salia
AN ACCRA Circuit Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the Managing Director of Kae-Mebre Company, a road construction firm, Justice Kwasi Larbie.
He is alleged to have defrauded a businessman of GH¢157,806 on the pretext of supplying him with road construction equipment.
His accountant, Asamoah Agyapong, 42, is currently on bail after he was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and defrauding by false pretences.
The court, presided by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills, granted bail with two sureties with one to be justified.
The Nima Divisional Crime Officer, Deputy Supt of Police (DSP) Kwaku Duah, told the Daily Graphic that Agyapong was arrested on October 31, 2008 and was granted bail by the court on November 12, 2008 after almost six months search for him and his boss, Larbie.
According to him, Larbie introduced himself as an agent of Taisei Corporation of Japan, the company that constructed the Mallam-Cape Coast road.
He said Larbie said Taisei had asked him to sell off some of the equipment used in the construction work.
DSP Duah said the suspect took his victim to Mankessim, where the items were kept for disposal.
He said the victim became convinced on seeing the items and expressed interest in some of them.
He said Larbie, however, informed his victim that under the sales terms, the buyer was to pay the full cost of the equipment chosen before it was handed over to him or her.
DSP Duah said based on that, the victim paid GH¢157,806 to Larbie for the equipment to be supplied.
He said months after payments were made Larbie failed to supply the equipment.
He said out of frustration, the victim contacted Taisei Corporation for the equipment to be supplied.
DSP Duah said Taisei Corporation indicated that the company had already supplied the equipment to Larbie.
He said the victim was also informed that the equipment list he provided to Taisei Corporation was not what Larbie had paid for.
He said since then efforts to contact Larbie, who is dark in complexion and has a tribal mark on his right chin, had proved futile.
DSP Duah said the suspect was believed to be hiding in the Western Region and appealed to any member of the public who knew his whereabouts to contact the Nima Divisional Crime Office or the nearest police station.