An Accra Circuit Court has remanded two persons accused of stealing 54,000 litres of petrol valued at GH¢932,040 and subsequently setting fire to the tanker transporting the fuel.
Alhassan Amidu, a driver, and Francis Owusu, a driver's mate, are alleged to have conspired to steal the fuel and burn the tanker, valued at GH¢980,000, in an attempt to make the incident appear to be an accident.
The two have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, namely stealing and causing damage, as well as stealing and causing damage. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution told the court that the complainant, Emmanuel Narh, owns J.K. Narh Transport, a fuel transportation company.
According to the prosecution, Amidu was the driver of the tanker, with registration number BRU JK 9171-21, while Owusu was the driver's mate.
The court heard that the accused persons were assigned to transport the 54,000 litres of petrol from Tema to Buipe in the Savannah Region.
The prosecution alleged that the two conspired to sell the fuel before setting fire to the tanker on a stretch of road between Kawakpe and Gurupe while travelling towards Buipe.
The accused persons subsequently informed the complainant that the tanker and its contents had been destroyed by fire in an accident, the prosecution said.
The complainant, however, suspected foul play and reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the two accused persons.
During investigations, the prosecution said the accused persons admitted in their caution statements that they had tampered with the tanker's compartment seal by drilling into it to gain access to the fuel.
Investigations are continuing.
The two accused persons are expected to reappear before the court on August 31, 2026.
GNA