Driver’s mate fined over diesel theft

Richard Ezu, 28, who stole 14,400 liters of diesel has been fined GH¢360.00 by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

He pleaded guilty on conspiracy and stealing.

Ezu, who is a driver’s mate, and his accomplices Bukari Ali, a driver; and Reginald Annor Nyarko, a supervisor of ZEN petroleum Company, attempted to bribe a security officer when they were caught.

On their second appearance Ali who had pleaded not guilty, changed his plea and was sentenced to a day’s imprisonment plus a fine of GH¢360.00.

Police Chief Inspector Florence Tawiah told the Court, presided over by Mr Justice Alex Obeng Asante that, the complainant’s are officers of ZEN petroleum Company while the accused persons and Nyarko used to work for the same petroleum firm.

She said ZEN petroleum Company has a fuel station at Goldfields Ghana Limited (GGL), Tarkwa, mine which supplies fuel to the mining Company.

The prosecution said, in March 20, Ali and Ezu were asked to discharge 55,000 liters of diesel in a tanker from Takoradi to their fuel station at the GGL, Tarkwa.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said the accused persons arrived on March 22 discharged 40, 600 liters of the diesel and left 1,400 which they connived together with their supervisor to sell.

However, on their way out of GGL premises, a security officer on duty at the South gate check point, detected the theft, stopped the accused persons and confronted them.

They then tried to bribe him to pave way for them but he rejected their offer and Ali and Ezu were arrested while Nyarko escaped.