Private security guards arrested for alleged theft of 400 litres of diesel in Matola

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Private security guards arrested for alleged theft of 400 litres of diesel in Matola

3:32 CAT | 01 Nov 2019

Photo: O País

Nine individuals working for a private security company providing services to the Mozambican Ports and Railways company (CFM) are currently in custody on suspicion of stealing 400 litres of diesel from their workplace in Machava.

Those detained were supposed to be protecting fuel tanker wagons at the Machava railway station in Matola municipality, Maputo province.

According to the police, the nine individuals used 20 and 30-litre plastic containers to drain off the fuel, which they allegedly then supplied to the informal market. The group intended to earn 20,000 meticais by selling the diesel at 50 meticais a litre.

The suspects deny their involvement in the crime.

One of them, the overseer told ‘O País’, said that, as head of the team, all he did was assign his colleagues to their work posts, and that he knew nothing about the theft of fuel.

Another suspect also denied being involved in theft, explaining: “When I was at my work post, I had no access to the other posts.” He suspects people in the neighbourhood were behind the theft, not the security guards.

As they were taken into custody at the Fifth Precinct police station, the individuals were wearing their work uniforms, but the company they worked for came to collect them. The suspects say their employer’s attitude suggests they have already lost their jobs.

Police spokesperson Fernando Manhiça says the corporation was able to thwart the nine as a result of a tip-off reporting strange movement at the CFM station. “A team of PRM and Transport and Communications Police went to the scene and caught the defendants ‘in flagrante delicto’. An infraction notice has been opened.”

By Amândio Borges

Source: O País