The Tema Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has arrested Alhaji Awudu Salifu, a popular scrap dealer, in connection with the theft of 2,000 bags of sugar, valued GH�200,000 and belonging to MANSELL Ghana Limited.
A highly placed source at the Tema Regional Police Command, who confirmed the story, described the arrest as a major breakthrough, since Alhaji Awudu Salifu is alleged to be the architect of most of the burglaries of warehouses in and around the port city of Tema.
Also assisting the police in their investigations are two drivers, Michael Amu and Seidu Salifu, who are in charge articulated trucks with registration numbers GN4371-10 and GW1759-11 respectively.
Independent investigations conducted by The Chronicle revealed that three private security guards from NAB Security Limited, who were on duty at the warehouse situated at the Tema Heavy Industrial Area on Sunday 1st June 2014 when the theft took place, are on the run and being pursued by the police.
Alhaji Salifu reportedly told the police that one of the security guards, currently at large, named only as Efo, allegedly told him that he had some sugar to be transported from the warehouse, and that he needed trucks to cart them. Based on this, Alhaji�s son, Nabiru Moro, engaged the two articulated trucks to cart the goods.
Alhaji Awudu Salifu then provided his own waybills to cover the goods, and succeeded in carting them away. The registration numbers of the vehicles carrying the alleged stolen goods were also altered. On the day of the theft, a policeman on guard duty at the warehouse allegedly left his duty post to buy food.
The Chronicle gathered that the entire duration of the operation lasted three hours. Alhaji Awudu Salifu, 51, was in the news recently, when a warehouse at the GTMC yard in Tema Community One was broken into and 222 drums of lube oil stolen. He and his accomplices, who admitted the offence, were put before the Ashaiman Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Seyram T.K. Azumah.
Judge Azumah convicted and sentenced them to 150 penalty units fine or in default, 18 months imprisonment, and further ordered that they should see the complainant in the case and pay for the stolen items, or the complainant institute civil action. They refused to see the complainant, as directed by the court to pay for the stolen goods, and so were dragged to the Tema High Court, where they failed to appear, leading to a default judgement being entered against them.
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