CID Busts "Fuel Syndicate"

?6.4 billion worth of pre-mix fuel involved

THE Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has busted pre-mix fuel syndicate whose activities have created problems for vehicle owners.

The syndicate involves Nana Alex Asamoah, Western Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); some officials of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Mobil Oil Ghana Limited and the Ministerial Committee for Pre-mix Fuel and individuals whose names are being withheld for security reasons.

Mr David Asante-Apeatu, Director of CID, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra yesterday that after three months of investigations, it has been established that more than ?6.4 billion worth of pre-mix fuel was adulterated and sold to consumers in Accra.

The syndicate used forged documents purported to have been signed by Mr Ishmael Ashitey, Minister of State in charge of Fisheries and Niibi Ayibonte, Chairman of the Pre-mix Fuel Committee, to lift the fuel from TOR.

He said the syndicate got Mobil Ghana Limited to lift the fuel between January 2001 and December 2002 by using a document ? ?Supplementary Approval?.

Mr Asante-Apeatu said the CID started investigations into reports of alleged pre-mix fuel deals in the Western, Central and Greater Accra regions last December.

He said during investigations, it was confirmed that Mobil lifted 4,293,000 litres of pre-mix fuel valued at about ?6.4 billion on behalf of Mr Asamoah, former Chairman of the Western Region Pre-mix Fuel Committee, from TOR without proper authority.

The investigations revealed that in furtherance of the deal, Mr Asamoah and his accomplices prepared and produced the documents and forged the signatures of Mr Ashitey and Mr Ayibonte, who are the only officials with authority to approve the lifting of pre-mix fuel from TOR.

Mr Asante-Apeatu said the Forensic Science Laboratory of the CID had confirmed that the signatures on the documents were forged.

He said the investigations established that Mobil Ghana Limited lifted the fuel based on the forged documents, which listed some fishermen groups as the recipients.

The purported recipient fishing communities were Princess Akatakyi Number One; Princess Akatakyi Number Two; Half-Assini Number One; Half Assini Number Two; Butre Number One and Butre Number Two.

He said investigations revealed that these fishing groups did not receive any fuel within the period from Mr Asamoah.

The CID Director said several tankers were used to lift the pre-mix fuel from TOR.

They included GT 4871 H driven by Joseph Pinto; GT 406 C driven by Maxwell Yaw Tetteh Tsu; GT 5174 E driven by Moro Charwutey; and GR 179 E driven by Aminu Charwutey.

Two drivers Moro Charwutey and Emmanuel Atiso are on the run, he said.

Mr Asante-Apeatu said the three drivers under arrest had disclosed that they were instructed by Asamoah to deliver the fuel to Goil and Shell filling stations at Abeka and Mobil at Korle Gonno.

The Director said managers of these filling stations told the CID that they paid ?28 million for every 13,500 litres of pre-mix they received from Mr Asamoah.

He said investigations at TOR had revealed that pre-mix fuel had an octane level of 82 per cent or lower whereas gasoline (petrol) had a minimum of 91 per cent.

Mr Asante-Apeatu said when pre-mix fuel was mixed with gasoline, it lowered the octane level that would cause uneven combustion in engines and cause major damage.

Further investigations revealed that the marine mix oil in the pre-mix fuel also produced carbon deposit in a vehicle's engine and negatively affected its efficiency and lifespan.

Mr Asante-Apeatu noted that this had serious negative implications for the national economy and unsuspecting vehicle owners to whom the adulterated fuel was sold.

Meanwhile, all the suspects have been granted bail while the docket has been sent to the Attorney General?s Department for advice.