Truck driver steals 166 tonnes of paper at Sappi

Truck driver steals 166 tonnes of paper at Sappi
Credit: Belga

A 44-year-old Dutch truck driver who allegedly defrauded paper manufacturer Sappi in Lanaken, Limburg, for almost €50,000 with forged consignment notes, faces a prison sentence of one year or 200 hours community service and a fine of €3,200.

The Dutchman had been working as a transporter for Sappi for 10 years and was therefore perfectly aware of the procedure within the factory.

For example, he would present himself at the factory with a waybill stating that he needed to pick up several tonnes of paper or wood pulp. He would then hand over a forged consignment note mentioning a higher number of tonnes to the loader of the truck.

His truck was weighed both on entering and on leaving the factory. However, when driving out, he would manoeuver the vehicle so that it was not completely on the weighbridge. In this way, his loaded weight corresponded roughly to the weight stated on the bill of lading that he had presented at the reception. He then sold the overloaded amount of paper or wood pulp on his own.

However, the scam was spotted on 9 June 2020. When the truck driver presented himself a second time later that day, he was closely monitored. He presented a 22-tonne bill of lading but handed over a 28-tonne bill of lading to the loader. The police were notified and found as many as 30 forged consignment notes in his driver's cab.

According to Sappi, he may have misappropriated 166.34 tonnes of paper and wood pulp in a single year. The paper manufacturer is therefore asking for compensation of just under €50,000. Judgment will be on 17 October.


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