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Twelve Chinese nationals accused of engaging in illegal mining, also known as ‘Galamsey’, have been granted bail in the sum of GHC300,000 by the Asante Bekwai Circuit Court. The court, presided over by Mr Mark Tair-ima Diboro, ordered that each of the twelve accused persons must produce three sureties, one of whom must have a landed property. All sureties should be Ghanaians living within the jurisdiction of the Court.
The accused persons have been ordered to deposit their passports with the Court’s registry, and the registrar has been directed to verify with the Immigration Service if the passports are genuine. The Court also directed the registrar to liaise with the regional Judicial Service to obtain an interpreter for the accused persons to facilitate a fair trial.
The prosecution did not provide the facts of the case to the Court, and the case has been adjourned to May 10, 2023. The accused persons are said to have been arrested over alleged illegal mining activities at Obuasi.
The defence counsel for the first two accused persons, Mr Bright Gyamfi, prayed for bail, stating that though his clients are Chinese, they have fixed places of abode in Kumasi and would not interfere with investigations. He also stated that they have people of substance to stand as sureties. Mr Kofi Boye Ateng, the lawyer for the other accused persons, also stated that his clients have fixed places of abode and workplaces and would not hamper investigations.
The Court granted bail, taking into consideration the submission of the lawyers and the fact that the prosecution did not oppose bail.
