Court remands five Chinese nationals over galamsey

An Accra High Court has remanded into custody five Chinese nationals including one female called En Huang aka Aisha Huang aka Yaa Asantewaa, a supposed Queenpin behind galamsey operations in the Ashanti Region.
 
Her accomplices are Gao Jin Cheng 45, Lu Qi Jun, 39, Habin Gao,  26 Zhang Zhang Pen 23 are to reappear on May 23.
    
No charges have been preferred against the accused persons.
     
However the court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Edward Baiden in his ruling on an application for bail upheld the Ghana Immigration Service submissions that they were likely to interfere with investigations.
    
Mr Peter Nantuo counsel for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) prayed the court to remand them into custody as the activities of the accused persons was harming the environment in the region and also for investigations to continue.
   
According to counsel, Aisha for example, was arrested up by the GIS officials in a four hour standoff.
   
Defense counsel, Mr. Daniel Awuku was not enthused about the media reportage on Aisha
   
Mr.Awuku his clients were ready to cooperate with the GIS and avail themselves whenever they were required by the GIS.
   
Counsel contended that the GIS had all the logistics to carry out any investigations without the court remanding the accused into custody.
    
The five were rounded up by the GIS in the Ashanti Region following their alleged involvement in illegal mining in the region.
     
They were transferred to Accra by the GIS for further investigations.

Source: GNA