Scrap dealer arrested for stealing railway metal

Tema, April 30, GNA - Abdul Rahman, a 26 year-old scrap dealer was on Tuesday arrested by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) security officers for stealing steel sleepers from a railway behind the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) in Tema.

Rahman who is in police custody was spotted by TOR's two security men unscrewing the sleepers on April 28 at about 1500 hours. Inspector Olivia Turkson, Tema Regional Police Public Affairs Officer told the Ghana News Agency that, the suspect said he sold the sleepers at nine GH cedis to the security men who feigned interest to purchase the sleepers.

A sleeper cost over $200, currently on the market. Inspector Turkson said Rahman later when he sensed danger denied stealing the sleepers and saying he is a cobbler. This was the second day on April 29 when the security men saw him again at the place around 0730 hours.

Inspector Turkson said, the security men apprehended him and informed railway officials who handed him over to the police.

According to him, the police was currently hunting for culprits noting that sleepers covering over four kilometres have so far been stolen. She, therefore, called on the general public to report people who buy such metals from scrap dealers to curb the stealing of state properties.

When later railway officials went to inspect the number of sleepers stolen, two other persons who were seen carrying a sleeper each on their heads dropped the metals upon seeing officers and bolted.