Five in court for stealing fuel, burning fuel tanker

Five people appeared in an Accra High Court. They are accused of stealing fuel worth GH¢834,300 from A-Bek Company Limited.

The defendants present were Bashiru Mohammed, Isaac Donkor, Abdellah Dauda, and Yaw Gerald. The court issued a bench warrant for Alhaji Iddrisu, the first accused, who did not attend. Despite his lawyer's presence, the court proceeded with the warrant.

Two accomplices named Alhaji and Kofi Adu are currently at large. The accused allegedly conspired to sell diesel to Gerald instead of delivering it to BOST Depot at Buipe. They also planned to stage an accident by driving the tanker off the road and burning it.

Iddrisu, Mohammed (aka Gambo), Donkor, Alhaji, and Kofi Adu face charges of conspiracy to steal 54,000 liters of diesel valued at GH¢834,300. Iddrisu and Dauda have been charged with stealing the fuel.

Iddrisu, Mohammed, Donkor, Alhaji, and Kofi Adu also face charges related to damaging a DAF Tanker Trailer valued at GH¢730,000. Mohammed faces an additional charge for setting the tanker on fire.

All accused except Iddrisu and the two fugitives pleaded not guilty. The court granted bail for four defendants present in court at GH¢300,000 each with two sureties.

Sureties must justify their property equivalent to the bail sum and deposit valid ID cards at the court registry. The accused on bail must report to police every Tuesday.

The prosecution's case states that Nana Ampong Asare works for A-Bek Company Limited. About two years ago, he gave one DAF Trailer Tanker (registration GN-9587-13) to Iddrisu and others for work.

The tanker loads fuel from Tema BOST for delivery across various depots in Ghana. In December 2024, Iddrisu and Dauda were scheduled to load 54,000 liters of diesel from Tema BOST to Buipe.

Before this loading date, several accused met in Kasse near Ahodwo and conspired with Gerald instead of delivering it as planned. They intended to fake an accident by driving off-road and burning the tanker.

On December 30, 2024, they sold 40,500 liters of fuel to Gerald for GH¢526,500 instead of delivering it properly. Afterward, while driving towards Buipe in Bono Manso region, Mohammed drove into a cashew farm before setting the tanker ablaze.

Prosecution claims that Asare suspected foul play after reporting it to police led to their arrest. Investigations revealed that Iddrisu received GH¢200,000 from this scheme; he bought an unregistered Toyota Camry for GH¢150,000.

Iddrisu also purchased an 85-inch Samsung TV set along with a home theatre system. Donkor received GH¢50,000 which he used to buy a Toyota Vitz Taxicab (registration GE3539-20).

Mohammed received GH¢80,000; Dauda got GH¢70,000 used for purchasing a Toyota Matiz (registration AS 4967-21). Both Alhaji and Kofi Adu received GH¢63,250 each but remain at large.

Prosecution stated that all vehicles have been retrieved so far. Gerald refunded GH¢3000 back while Mohammed returned GH¢35k along with sending back the TV set too.

The case has been adjourned until April 14th 2025.