The Tarkwa District Court One has fined two persons—Emmanuel Tawiah, a labourer, and Ibrahim Mohammed, a businessman—a total of GH¢1,560 for stealing and dishonestly receiving.
They both pleaded guilty, and each was ordered to pay a fine of GH¢780 or, in default, serve three months’ imprisonment.
Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Enoch Assan-Donkoh told the court, presided over by Mr. Charles Owusu Nsiah, that the complainant, Gilbert Adom Mensah, is an employee of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine. The accused persons are residents of Mile 7 in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
He noted that the Iduapriem Mine had been experiencing a series of diesel thefts within the company’s premises.
Based on this information, the youth of Mile 7 formed a watchdog committee to patrol the area in an effort to apprehend those behind the thefts.
According to Sergeant Assan-Donkoh, on January 15, 2025, around 2:00 am, Michael Boamah, a member of the watchdog committee, saw Tawiah and one Arhin—currently at large—each carrying a jerry can of diesel.
Boamah suspected the diesel had been stolen and followed the two to Mohammed’s house. When he confronted them, they could not provide any convincing explanation.
Boamah alerted other committee members, and with the assistance of police operation officers from Iduapriem Mine, the accused persons were arrested.
They were handed over to the police together with the jerry cans of diesel. Both were subsequently re-arrested and detained for investigation.
During the investigation, police discovered that Tawiah and Arhin had conspired to siphon diesel from parked machines at Amax Yard, within Iduapriem Mine’s concession. They then sold the stolen fuel to Mohammed.
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