Court convicts driver for stealing fuel

Kumasi, Oct 7, GNA-A Kumasi circuit court on Wednesday convicted a 24-year-old driver for stealing 72 gallons of diesel fuel belonging to one Francis Afriyie at Kwadaso, a suburb of Kumasi.

Salifu Bukari was convicted on his own plea of guilty but the court deferred sentence till October 15.

Police Chief Inspector Regina Kesewaa told the court that sometime in October this year, one Boakye asked Bukari to watch over his articulated vehicle for him in the night.

She said, however, that the accused, who had a different motive, destroyed the vehicle's engine which costs about 40 million cedis and stole all the diesel fuel in the tank that night.

Chief Inspector Kesewaa said in order to outwit Boakye who had been ordered by Afriyie, his master to send some goods to Tema the following day, Bukari then filled the tank with water.

She said the accused then sold all the 72 gallons of diesel fuel that very night and bolted.

Chief Inspector Kesewaa said when Boakye and Afriyie arrived at where they had parked the vehicle the following day, they were surprised that they could not find the accused and when they inspected the vehicle, they found out that the engine had been tampered with and all the diesel fuel drained from the tank.

She said Afriyie who sensed that something was amiss, reported the case to the police who arrested Bukari and after interrogation charged him with the offence.

Bukari pleaded with the court to deal with him leniently since he was a poor man.