Ex-Newmont employee swindles oil company

Sunyani, March 29, GNA- Peter Boahen, a 38 year old former employee of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited and 10 fuel pump attendants of TYCO Oil Company Limited on Sunyani were arraigned before a Circuit Court at Fiapre, near Sunyani for defrauding the company of 123 million cedis. Boahen, who was charged for stealing, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of 120 million cedis with two sureties to be justified when he appears before the court next Wednesday.

The 10 other accused also pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetment of crime and were granted 10 million cedis bail each to reappear on April 25, 2007.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Martin Defeamaphor, prosecutor, told the court presided by Mr. Owusu Gyamfi that Boahen, resident at Yamfo used to work with Newmont Gold Limited but was dismissed, whilst the others worked with TYCO Limited. He said in December last year Boahen went to TYCO and informed the manager that he had been asked by Newmont Company to negotiate for diesel on credit basis to which the company agreed and was introduced to the attendant.

The prosecutor said instead of taking the fuel from the company as agreed, Boahen connived with the 10 attendants and was rather collecting cash on daily basis.

ASP Defeamaphor said Boahen prepared a list of fake registration numbers of vehicles, which he said belonged to Newmont and ordered his accomplices to record them in an invoice book to indicate that he had collected fuel.

He said because Boahen always gave them part of the monies he collected the attendants kept the deal secret till the oil company presented a bill to Newmont for payment. He said it was then that they got to know that Boahen was no more working with Newmont.

The prosecutor said the matter was reported to the police and Boahen was arrested and during interrogation he mentioned the attendants as his accomplices. 29 March 07