Pineapple exporter in court for duping growers

Awutu-Beraku (C/R), April 18, GNA - Kofi Dokyi, exporter, 46, who allegedly defrauded thirteen pineapple out-growers in and around Awutu-Beraku and Gomoa-Okyereko in the Central Region of 90 million cedis, was on Thursday arraigned before a magistrate's court at Awutu-Beraku charged with 13 counts of fraud by false pretences. He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted a 100 million cedi bail with one surety to re-appear on April 24.

Police Chief Inspector Emmanuel Attah Grand told the court that sometime last year, Dokyi introduced himself to the farmers as an exporter of pineapples and succeeded in collecting large consignments of pineapple fruits from 13 out-growers in Awutu-Beraku and Gomoa-Okyereko. He said all attempts to get Dokyi to pay for the pineapples proved futile. Later through the farmers' own investigations it came to light that the accused had already collected monies accruing from the export business and was secretly dealing with another unsuspecting group of pineapple producers in the Nsawam area of the Eastern Region.

Dokyi's victims in the Central Region reported the matter to the police and after thorough investigations he was charged.