Three people arrested for illegally selling PDS meters in Kumasi

General News of Saturday, April 20, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-04-20

The prosecution and income protection units of the Ashanti region electricity distribution services (PDS) arrested three people, including a middle-aged woman, who were engaged in illegal sale of meters in Kumasi.

The suspects; Aisha Abubakar, 39, Tampoli Bako, 37, and Paul Asolo, 29, are in custody, while the fourth suspect, Osman Abubakar, is currently on the run.

Erasmus Kyere Baidoo, regional public relations manager for the PDS at Ashanti, who confirmed the arrest at Citi News, explained that the prosecution unit officials had been following the rumor that a person was selling counters.

They then pretended to want to buy the Tampoli Bako counters and the team stopped him when he arrived in the Kumasi metropolis.

During the interrogation, the suspect led the team to his supplier, Paul Asolo, who also took her to the residence of Aisha Abubakar.

Officials recovered a total of 13 meters with an ECG print after conducting a search at the residence of Aisha Abubakar where she sold 250 Ghc each.

Mr Kyere Baidoo expressed his concern over the growing number of illegal meter sales in the region, despite the constant public awareness of the abandonment of such activities.

"This has been going on for a very long time in this region and perhaps elsewhere as well. We started exercising by capturing some of these meters, but the irony is that as soon as we capture a particular area, the next time we get closer, these areas are flooded with meters. It's an endless exercise. And everywhere, it continues, "he said.

He indicated that the installations of these illegal meters are not listed in the company's database and that it is difficult to bill users of these meters at the end of the month.

The situation that he has added affects the company in terms of business losses.

According to him, the PDS is currently struggling with 15% of commercial losses related to such activities.

He warned the people behind the distribution of such counters to stop.

He called on the police and the judiciary to make arrests and heavy sentences so that the perpetrators would have a deterrent effect on others.