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24.04.2006 General News

Fleeing Car Thief In Multiple Accidents

24.04.2006 LISTEN
By daily graphic

A 36-year-old self-styled businessman, who went to the Batsonaa Mobil Filling Station off the Spintex Road for shopping and stole an Audi saloon car from the customer parking lot, has been arrested for stealing and for wrecking two other motor vehicles in his bid to escape in the stolen car.

Daniel Quarcoopome, a resident of Gbawe, near Accra, who claimed to be a dealer in motor parts, found the Audi car parked at the Batsonaa filling station with the ignition key in place and the engine running.

He jumped into the driver's seat and drove off, but someone raised an alarm and he was given a chase by a group of public-spirited citizens in another car.

During a high-speed chase between Bastonaa and Tema Community 18, Quarcoopome first ran the Audi into a Mercedes Benz commercial passenger bus and then into a taxi.

He was then arrested by his pursuers and handed over to the police. The Tema Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Joshua Dogboda, told the Daily Graphic at Tema at the weekend that the Audi belonged to Mr Matthew Ottuke Ogboru, a Nigerian businessman.

He said Mr Ogboru parked his car at the parking lot of the filling station and left the ignition key in place with the engine running, to attend to something that only took a few minutes.

As he was returning to his car, the Nigerian businessman suddenly saw Quarcoopome jump into the Audi and drive off, whereupon he began shouting that a thief was getting away in his car. A group of people chased the alleged car thief as he sped toward Community 18.

Quarcoopome told the police that Mr Ogboru owed him ¢35 million, being payment he made for the supply of computers, which the Nigerian businessman had failed to deliver.

Mr Ogboru reportedly laughed off the suspect's claim as preposterous. The Regional Crime officer said his office was investigating the incident.

Story by George Sydney Abugri

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