Two galamsey operators fined for siphoning diesel

The Tarkwa Circuit Court on Thursday sentenced Robert Woode, 23 and Akwasi Opoku, 22, both illegal miners, to two days imprisonment plus a total fine of 480 Ghana cedis for siphoning 150 liters of diesel valued at 750 Ghana cedis.

The pleaded guilty to stealing. They were arrested at Timtimhwe when they were conveying the diesel for sale at Bogoso.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided by Mr. Justice Obeng Asante that on November 19, police personnel at Timtimhwe police barrier intercepted a taxi diven by one Kwasi Owusu with Woode and Opoku on board.

He said when the police officers were conducting their normal checks in the car, they found three jerri cans containing diesel in it.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said the driver and the convicts were arrested by the police officers for questioning.

He said the driver told the police that Woode and Opoku were the owners and they hired the taxi.

Chief Inspector Amponsah said Woode broke down in tears and revealed to the police that they stole the diesel from a faulty RCC construction truck on the Tarkwa/Bogoso main road.