A Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Emmanuel Amo-Yartey on Tuesday sentenced a driver and his mate to 10 years' imprisonment in hard labour each. The convicts, Frederick Losu, driver and George Atsu, driver's mate, pleaded guilty to all charges of conspiracy to commit crime, stealing and adulteration of petroleum products preferred against them. Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Inspector R. Sumatu told the court that the convicts were in charge of a MAN Diesel Fuel Tanker with registration number AS 5942 U. On February 10, 2011, the accused persons dispatched from Accra Plains Depot, Tema with 36,000 litres of diesel for delivery at BOST Fuel Reservoir in Kumasi. Chief Inspector R. Sumatu said on the way, the accused persons diverted the product and stole 9,000 litres which they sold to one Teye for GH¢600.00. He told the court that in return, Teye gave the convicts 9,000 litres of kerosene to adulterate the remaining 27,000 litres of diesel in order to make up for the shortfall. According to the prosecutor, when they arrived in Kumasi on February 14, 2011, the company's technician detected the deal and informed the complainant, Samari Yaw Nicholas. The Chief Inspector told the court that the complainant who is the depot manager for BOST Fuel Reservoir, quickly reported the case to the police and the suspects were grabbed. Source: Daily Guide