A local hardware company that had close to $100,000 allegedly stolen by five employees has asked the Supreme Court to drop charges against one of the managers.

Five former employees of Bluebird Lumber and Hardware had their matters called separately and appeared for the first time before the Supreme Court on theft charges. 

Rupesh Kumar Singh was a former Business Manager for the Bluebird Lumber and Hardware branch at Saleufi and is amongst five of the former staff charged with theft as a servant. 

When his matter was called, Supreme Court Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke told the prosecution there was a letter from the Managing Director of Bluebird, Taiaopo Faumausili Andrew Ah Liki applying to withdraw the charges against the foreigner. 

Attorney General’s Office lawyer Helen Apisaloma Sefo sought a week's adjournment to review the letter from the complainant seeking withdrawal. 

Singh is facing a theft as a servant charge involving $1,800 and is currently on bail. 

The other former employees of the company include; Solomona Iva, Gatasi Fauena, Milovale Lapana and Talele Anuilagi. 

All of the defendants are facing several charges of theft as a servant for the alleged embezzlement of close to $100,000 from their former employer. 

The prosecution also asked the court for an adjournment to finalise the charges against the former employees. 

It is alleged the former staff entered the products returned by customers into the system and reported that refunds were made to the customers. 

However, an internal investigation found that there were no products returned and the money claimed for refunds was allegedly pocketed by those involved. 

The scheme was discovered by a trusted staff member who suspected the activities and raised the alarm triggering an internal investigation that detected less than $100,000 was stolen from January until the discovery was made. 

Another theft case heard in the court involved two men who worked for Ford Hyundai Samoa and are accused of taking $14,000. 

The men are Victor Vitale Lolesio and Tau Sioka who applied for legal aid but were rejected by the Court Registrar. 

Their matter has been adjourned for a  week to obtain a lawyer to represent them in court.