Five before High Court for stealing fuel, burning fuel tanker

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

Four of the accused were present: Bashiru Mohammed, Isaac Donkor, Abdellah Dauda, and Yaw Gerald. The first accused, Alhaji Iddrisu, did not attend court. Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Two accomplices named Alhaji and Kofi Adu are still at large. The accused allegedly met in Kasse 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 (also known as Gambo), Donkor, Alhaji, and Kofi Adu face charges of conspiracy to steal 54,000 litres of diesel valued at GH¢834,300. Iddrisu and Dauda have been charged with stealing the fuel.

The group is also charged with conspiring to damage a DAF Tanker Trailer worth GH¢730,000. Mohammed faces an additional charge for setting the tanker on fire. All except Iddrisu, Alhaji, and Kofi Adu pleaded not guilty.

The court granted bail to the four present in court for GH¢300,000 each with two sureties. The sureties must justify their properties equivalent to the bail sum. They must also deposit valid Identity Cards at the court registry.

The accused must report to police every Tuesday of each month. Nana Ampong Asare is the complainant from A-Bek Company Limited.

About two years ago, Asare gave one DAF Trailer Tanker (registration GN-9587-13) to Iddrisu and others for work. The tanker loads fuel at Tema BOST for delivery across various depots in Ghana.

In December 2024, Iddrisu and Dauda were supposed to load 54,000 litres of diesel from Tema BOST to Buipe BOST substation in the Savannah Region. Before this delivery, they conspired with others near Ahodwo to sell fuel instead.

They planned an accident involving driving off-road and burning the tanker as a cover-up. In December 2024, Iddrisu met Gerald about selling him diesel cheaper than market price.

On December 30, 2024, they sold Gerald 40,500 litres for GH¢526,500. Afterward, while driving towards Buipe in Bono Manso region, Mohammed drove into a cashew farm and set the tanker on fire.

Asare suspected foul play and reported it to police; all five were arrested afterward. Investigations revealed that Iddrisu received GH¢200,000 from this scheme and bought an unregistered Toyota Camry for GH¢150,000.

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

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

Prosecution stated that all vehicles have been retrieved now. Gerald refunded GH¢300,000 back to Asare while Mohammed returned GH¢35,000 along with the TV set.

The case has been adjourned until April 14th 2025.