Six people before court for allegedly re-bagging rice

Six people apprehended by officials of Food and Drugs Board (FDB) for allegedly re-bagging and selling inferior rice to consumers as quality products at a warehouse in Okaishie, Accra on Friday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

They were charged with deception of consumers and sale of goods under unsanitary conditions.

The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty, are Fusieni Mohammed and Ibrahim Alhassan both traders, Iddrisu Ibrahim, Hamidu Raman, Musa Issifu and Sani Sando all porters.

The court presided over by Mrs Patience Mills Tetteh remanded them into Police custody pending further investigations to re-appear on September 26.

Mr Ray Krakrabah Quarshie Senior, who represented the accused persons, prayed the court to admit his clients to bail since their remand would create congestion in Police cells.

He said all the instruments for act of the crime were in the custody of the Police, therefore, the accused persons could not return to commit similar crime.

Defence counsel said accused persons had fixed place of abode and would readily appear to stand trial.

However, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abraham Annor objected to granting of bail saying the Police would need time to conduct further investigations into the matter.

DSP Annor said the complainants were regulatory officers of Food and Drugs Board, and on September 15, this year, they received information that some people were re-bagging rice at a warehouse at Okaishie.

The team proceeded to the warehouse and found the accused persons busily re-bagging inferior rice into 25 kilogrammes empty sacks of Sultana, Jewel, Stallion, Royal Umbrella, Big Joe and Uncle Sam rice.

DSP Annor said the team also retrieved a machine used in re-bagging the rice.

He pointed out that the accused persons purchased empty sacks of Sultana, Jewel, Royal Umbrella, Big Joe and Uncle Sam rice and used them for their nefarious acts.