Crime

3 arrested for posing as NPA inspectors

Three persons are in the grips of the Elubo District Police for allegedly posing as inspectors assigned by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), to inspect gas stations within the Western Region.

The suspects, Frederick Mensah, Isaac Opoku Mensah and George Larbi were

remanded into police custody by the Elubo Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Mr Majid Iliasu Abdul, after they were arrested on March 4, 2019, by the Elubo police.

The alleged impostors, who were charged with impersonation, failed to secure bail when the case was called for hearing last Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

Narrating the incident that led to their arrest, the Takoradi Zonal Manager of NPA, David Azey Adeenze Kanga, disclosed that on March 4, 2019, at about 10am, the manager of Superior Service Station at Elubo informed him about the suspects.

 The suspects had submitted a written price list, which stated that their company ‘Petrogolf’ was collaborating with NPA to conduct inspections of all gas stations for safe operations.

In the said list, it stated, “We inspect, write the new valves you will require and bill you before we do the work for you. We also provide a certificate to show to the NPA when we are done.”

Mr Kanga said when he realised that they were not officials of NPA, he informed  the police, leading to the arrest and impounding of the Toyota Highlander with registration number GS 1434-18 they used in their illicit exercise.   

“Upon further interrogation, they (suspects) claimed that they had earlier provided services to Adom Gas at Half Assini, but checks from our database could not confirm any gas station at Half Assini called Adom Gas,” he recounted.

The NPA Zonal manager said that, “the suspects do not have any form of authorisation or licence from the Authority to operate”.

Mr Kanga said NPA team after the arrest, visited some gas stations in Elubo and realised the suspected imposters had visited the gas stations and left a note with a price list.

He stated this was not the first time his office had received complaints from petroleum service providers of people using NPA’s name to extort monies from some people.

“This incidence is a typical example of what they talk about. This situation will not be taken on a lighter note. We will ensure the perpetrators are made to face the full rigorous of the law,” Mr Kanga said.

BY TIMES REPORTER

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