A sales manager, Kalapalliwar Parag, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos for allegedly defrauding his employer, GBGL Pharmacy Limited, of N40m.
Parag was arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command before Magistrate O. Y. Odufope along with his alleged girlfriend, Blessing Anthony, on three counts of fraudulent conversion, stealing and an attempt to prevent the course of justice.
According to the prosecutor, Haruna Magaji, the 29-year-old defendant had wanted to escape from police custody while the investigation was ongoing at the airport in Asaba, Delta State capital, where he was apprehended.
He added that the defendant, along with his 26-year-old alleged girlfriend, has been squandering the company’s money.
Magaji told the court that Parag committed the offence on August 4, 2022; which was the same month and year in which he started working for the company located at No. 4A, Redemption Crescent, Gbagada, Lagos State.
Magaji stated that the offences were contrary to and punishable under Sections 314, 287, 97(1) (3) and 328(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
The charge read in part, “That you, Kalapalliwar Parag, on August 17, 2022, at No. 4A, Redemption Crescent, Gbagada, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, being in the service of GBGL Pharmacy Limited as a Sales Manager, did intentionally, fraudulently converted N40m being proceeds of sales of pharmaceutical products, property of GBGL Pharmacy Limited, to your use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The Magistrate, Adefope, admitted them to bail in the sum of N5m with two responsible sureties.
She adjourned the case till August 4, 2023.
