…as police recover stolen turbocharger, jail thief

RESIDENTS of Matthews Ridge on Saturday were overjoyed as electricity supply was restored to the community.
Due to the diligence and hard work of police ranks at Matthews Ridge, the stolen turbocharger was recovered and electricity was restored to the community.

In addition, the power station operator was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI, along with the Hinterland Electrification Company Incorporated, has expressed thanks to the police at Matthews Ridge for their successful investigation and diligence, thus ensuring the stolen turbocharger was recovered.

Last week the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc., an agency within the MPI, had informed the public that it had filed a report to the ministry of the theft of the turbocharger. As a result of the stolen equipment, residents within Matthews Ridge were without power.

A press release from the MPI had stated that it was during maintenance work on the generators, a mechanical engineer observed that several parts were missing from the 156VA Cummins generator. An investigation was immediately launched at the power station to find the missing equipment, and which led to a subsequent confession from the station operator that he had removed the turbocharger from the generator and sold it to a miner.