5 GOPDC employees arrested for stealing caustic soda

Five employees of the Ghana Oil Palm Development Company (GOPDC), were on Friday arraigned before the Kade District Magistrate Court charged with stealing nine bags of caustic soda valued at GH¢450 belonging to the company.

Felix Tettey pleaded guilty, whiles Abraham Awuku, Isaac Ankomah, Michael Darko and Enock Nti Gyimah pleaded guilty with explanation, to charges of conspiracy to steal and stealing.

Giving the facts of the case, Police Inspector Francis Cobbina named the complainants as personnel of the “G4” Security services, responsible for security at GOPDC and said all the accused persons were labourers of the company.

He said on February 16 at about 1800 hours, the accused persons with the exception of Ankomah were tasked with clearing the tank at the refinery.

Tettey and Awuku approached the security man patrolling the yard to permit them to steal a quantity of caustic soda at the compound, for them to sell and give him his share.

The prosecutor said the security man feigned interest in the deal and took down Awuku’s telephone number so that he could get in touch when the time was ripe for the operation.

The security man however informed his supervisor of the intention of the labourers and he was advised to show interest in the deal so as to get them arrested as soon as the operation began.

The prosecutor said the security man called Awuku to inform him that the operation could begin at 0200 hours and upon receipt of that information, Awuku called Ankomah to join them, which he did.

When the time for the operation approached, the supervisor went with security men to lay ambush.

When Ankomah was seen carrying a bag of the caustic soda away, the security men rushed on him to arrest him but he managed to escape.

Awuku was, however, arrested and he mentioned accused persons as accomplices and they were all arrested.

They have all been remanded in prison custody until March 08.

Source: GNA