Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 17 August 2006

Source: GNA

Minibus impounded for fuel theft

Saltpond (C/R), Aug. 17, GNA - Security personnel of TAISEI, a road contracting firm working on the Winneba Junction - Yamoransa Highway on Monday, impounded a mini bus carrying a quantity of fuel, suspected to be stolen from the company.

Briefing newsmen at Salpond, the District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Frank Wilfred Anning, said the Security Personnel suspecting that the driver had stolen the diesel from the firm, gave him a chase, but he abandoned the vehicle and absconded. The personnel drove the minibus to the firm's yard and reported to the Police.

The District Commander said the driver quickly went to his vehicle owner and reported that armed robbers had taken the minibus from him. He appealed to the public for assistance in locating the driver. Meanwhile the Saltpond Police, have arrested one Malori, 30, suspected to have stolen eight heavy-duty truck tyres believed to belong to the firm while his two accomplices are on the run. In another development, one David Yaw Kattah, suspected to have stolen fuel that he was selling to commercial drivers in a house at Mankessim on Wednesday has been arrested by the Police. DSP Anning told the GNA that upon a tip off that someone was selling diesel at the house he led a team of Policemen from Saltpond to search the premises.

When the team arrived, the commercial drivers purchasing the fuel took to their heels, but Kattah, was apprehended and he admitted ownership of the fuel. DSP Annin said when the premises, was searched, two drums of diesel, jerry cans, funnel and an amount of 626,000 cedis being proceeds from the sale of the fuel was found.

He said the Police suspected that Kattah might have stolen the fuel from the site of TAISEI, adding that the company had been complaining about the siphoning of fuel from the company's equipment. The District Commander stated that Kattah would be put before court when investigations were completed. 17 Aug. 06