Five remanded over 9.1 billion cedi GOIL fuel coupons

Accra, Dec. 6, GNA-An Accra Fast Track High Court on Thursday remanded into police five persons who allegedly stole fuel coupons totalling 9.1 billion cedis belonging to the Ghana Oil Company (GOIL). The four, charged with conspiracy and stealing are Samuel Kofi Addo, 43, Joshua Kwamina Asamoah 30, Emmanuel Amegsashie, 45 Lawrence Avegbedor 24 Ebenezer Charway 35.

The court did not take pleas but read out their charges to them. Two other accomplices Edem Gasu, Sylvester Asimenu are on the run. Principal State Attorney Mr. William Kpobi, prayed the court, presided over by Mr. Justice K.A. Acquaye, for a notice to be pasted at the last pace of abode of Gasu and Asimenu for two weeks.

The case was therefore adjourned to December 11. Amegashie was the Production Technician working with CAMELOT Ghana Limited, a security-printing firm based in Accra. Prosecution said the company was tasked to print GOIL fuel coupons. Amegashie is also in-charge of quality control, plant and equipment maintenance, and electrical maintenance.

The prosecutor said Avorgbedor was a former employee of CAMELOT Ghana Limited who was however dismissed on March 1, 2007 while Asamoah is a taxi driver and Addo a pump attendant who worked with GOIL, Dansoman Service Station. Asamoah resigned on 1st October 2007. During the period from September 2007, Amegashie took advantage of his position in the company and entered the Hologram Vault, Micro Numbering Room and the Close Circuit Television Room (CCTR), which he is forbidden to enter. He was captured on CCTR carrying away a box containing some items. Amegashie's entry into the Hologram and Micro Numbering Vault was captured in the company's movement book. By these methods, he stole 30,000 leaflets of GH20 and GH15 denominations of GOIL fuel coupons valued at 9.1 billion cedis.

Prosecution said Amegashie gave some of the fuel coupons to Avorgbedor who printed serial numbers on them and gave them to Asamoah. Asamoah roped in Addo who was then working as a pump attendant into the deal and he started selling the coupons to the various GOIL Filling Stations in Accra.

Because Addo was well-known a pump attendant, he soled the coupons easily at his station in Dansoman. He however resigned but continued with the distribution and sales of the coupons. According to prosecution, the Audit Department of GOIL detected the deal as the serial numbers printed on them by Avorgbedor were different from the genuine ones.

The various stations were informed to be on the alert. On October 30, this year, Addo went to Darkuman GOIL station as usual to sell some of the coupons when he was arrested. He led Police to arrest Asamoah as his supplier and Asamoah also led the Police to arrest Avorgbedor as his supplier and that he was given 30% of whatever was sold and he in turn givave Addo part of that and returned 70% to Avorgbedor.

Avorgbedor admitted this and led the Police to arrest Amegashie whom he described as his source.

Amegashie has however denied his involvement. Prosecution said other GOIL Station outside Accra also bought some of the coupons and auditing was underway to determine the exact amount involved.