Driver granted bail over stolen Teleco's batteries

Eric Kwame Addo, a driver who is accused of stealing 48 back up batteries belonging to some telecommunication service providers, country was on Thursday admitted to a bail.

Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, Addo, 30, was granted a bail of GH? 240,000.00 with four sureties, two to be justified.

Meanwhile the court presided over by Mr W Essandoh has ordered the Police to hand over the 72 batteries retrieved to Mr Yaw Antwi a representative of Airtel Ghana Limited.

Addo aka Joe Swimmer, charged with conspiracy and stealing batteries worth $72, 000.00 has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Addo’s Counsel Mr Jerry Acquaye prayed the court to admit his client to bail explaining that Addo has a fixed place of abode at Achimota and is in gainful employment.

According to Mr Acquaye it was unfortunate that Addo was hired to embark on such business undertaken by two persons who are now at large.

Chief Inspector Francis Tassan, the prosecutor did not object to bail but prayed the court to do so with maximum security.

The trial of Addo has been slated for September 2. Meanwhile the court has ordered the arrest of his accomplices- Abotsi and Kabo.

Chief Inspector Tassan said the police have intensified efforts to arrest the two persons.

The two were said to have hired Addo to the various cell sites to embark on their operations.

On August 1, this year, the Madina Divisional Criminal Department had information that a syndicate using a Nissan Pick Up with registration number ER 3015-11 GU and a Kia truck were going round MTN, Airtel and other services providers’ cell sites stealing back up batteries.

Prosecution said the Police therefore extended enquiries to the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority offices in Koforidua in the Eastern Region where it was detected that licensing plates of the vehicles being used by the syndicate were fake.

Chief Inspector Tassan said luck however eluded the syndicate after the Police apprehended a KIA Bongo vehicle with registration number GS 7976-13 at Accra Girls Senior High School loaded with batteries, which were stolen from West Legon, Kokomlemle and Accra New Town cells sites.

The Police arrested Addo while Abotsi and Kabo escaped.

During police interrogation, Addo told the court that on July 15, this year, Abotsi and Kabo, who claimed to be working with Airtel Ghana, hired him to Airtel Sites at Gbawe and they stole 48 back up batteries.

According to the prosecutor, Addo alleged that on August 10, this year, the two accomplices hired him to steal back up batteries at Kokomlemle, Accra New Town and West Legon.

Prosecution said investigations revealed that Addo and his accomplices had undertaken similar operations in Kpetoe in the Volta Region with two vehicles.

Whiles mounting surveillance to arrest Addo’s accomplices, some unidentified persons left behind GH?1,500.00 with a fuel Station Attendant and called the Police to go for the money so that Addo could be released.

The Police after waiting for four hours left the scene, because the unidentified persons did not show up.

Prosecution said the GH?1,500.00, which was meant to bribe the Police, is in the custody of the Police as exhibit.