Two persons convicted for stealing felt and diesel

Two persons were on Tuesday sentenced to a total of 48 months imprisonment for conspiring and stealing six gallons of diesel and pieces of felt belonging to AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem (AAI).

The Tarkwa Circuit Court presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante on Tuesday sentenced Kwaku Donkor, a 26 year-old galamsey operator and Robert Arthur, a 40 year-old security officer working with Group 4 security company, a subsidiary company of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem (AAI).

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Florence Tawiah told the court that the complainant, Kofi Gamor, is a security officer of AAI and the convicts lived at Bankyim and Tamso respectively in Tarkwa.

She said around 4.30 a.m. on August 19, last year, the complainant had tip-off that a taxi cab with registration number AS 130-14 was approaching AAI security check point with stolen gallons of diesel and pieces of felt, a material used by mining firms to prevent chemicals from getting into direct contact with the soil.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said the complainant upon receiving the information informed the security patrol team operating within the concession of the mine and they laid ambush at the security barrier.

The Prosecutor said as soon as the taxi cab showed up at the check point, a search was conducted and the team discovered six 36 liter gallons of diesel and pieces of felt in a sack.

She said they were arrested together with the exhibit found on them and were handed over to the police.

Inspector Tawiah said Donkor in his cautioned statement claimed he conspired with the Arthur who was on duty at a location called Salvage yard within the mine’s concession to steal the items.

Passing sentence, Mr. Justice Obeng said the accused persons had been given hard sentences to serve as deterrent to security personal not to connive with others to loot companies that they work for.