A former driver of Pee Cee and Sons, Abdul Karim Mansaray and a man simply called Abass were past Tuesday captured by Police investigating the massive theft of bags of onions belonging to Pee Cee and Sons.
Abdul Karim Mansaray has also been identified by Ross Road Police as the man who manufactured the petrol bombs that were thrown inside the Milla Factory compound past Monday.
Abdul Karim was among those that were wanted by the Police after he fled the scene of crime where some of his accomplices were captured along the Masiaka/Bo highway.
The Police said he was captured at his house along Fisher Lane, a day after the petrol bombs were unleashed on the premises of Milla Factory during a riot led by friends and relatives of fourteen men who are currently facing several charges in court for defrauding the company.
The PRO of Pee Cee and Sons, Bakar Koroma explained to this press that the theft that took place was professionally done. “This is something that has been going on for yearsโ, Bakar, a Journalist himself, explained. He said after several tip-offs, the company decided to mount its own investigation with the help of the Police.
He said that investigating teams were set up to trail the trucks that were supplying onions to customers both in Freetown and in the Provinces.
Mr. Bakar Koroma told this press that on the 9th September, 2021 the company was informed of fake invoices and theft of company property carried out by the invoice staff, drivers and labourers. On 10th September, operations were mounted to capture the perpetrators.
The company was able to intercept messages exchanged among the onion thieves explaining to each the manner in which the theft was to be carried out and the number of bags of onions that were to be stolen from each truck.
At Mathoir town, one of the drivers called Pa Alhaji Dabo was found selling stolen onions to one Sinneh and at Feredugu a man called Fen Am was also captured buying stolen onions. A Pee Cee and Sons employee called Blackie who was part of the gang of thieves fled when the investigating team approached the scene of crime.
The companyโs PRO, Bakarr Koroma said that the reduction of the onions from 25kg to sometimes 16kg has an adverse effect on business as it leads to customers losing confidence in the companyโs products.
The driver of supply truck with registration number APA 530, Alie Sesay, refused to cooperate with Police investigators. After intense pressure, he agreed to open the back of the truck. Four men were found locked inside the truck re-bagging the onions.
The invoice man, the driver and four of the robbers were arrested and handed over to the Police for investigation.
At Taiama, the driver of vehicle registration number AOP 732, Murray Mansaray whose salary is Le1.8M per month also refused to open the back of his truck when he was accosted by investigators. When he eventually agreed to open the back of the truck after intense pressure, four thieves were found hiding under stolen bags of rice bags and onions. They were getting ready to sell them to their usual accomplices parading as retailers.
The Invoice man, Abdulai Sallieu Bah alias S. Bah, has fled and gone into hiding. He is yet to be apprehended by Police investigators.
Meanwhile, the 14 Pee Cee and Sons employees who appeared in court past Monday were yesterday denied bail and remanded in custody.
Investigations continue.
