Aisha bail application ruling June 2

Accra, May 23, GNA - An Accra High Court has fixed June 2, to rule on the bail application of En Huang and four other Chinese for their alleged involvement in illegal mining in the country.

However, the decision of the court sent En Huang aka Aisha Hung angry. She shed tears and banged her fist on the court's seat as the trial judge, Mr Justice Charles Edward walked into his chambers.

Not even the plea of her counsel, Mr Jerry Akuetteh could calm her down.

Aisha and her accomplices are being accused of allegedly undertaking small scale mining at Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region.

The four accused persons who were in court: Gao Jin Cheng, 45; Lu Qi Jun 39; Habin Gao, 26; and Zhang Pen, 23; are also facing a charge of disobedience of directive under the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573)

Aisha aka Yaa Asantewaa is additionally being held for providing Mine Support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission.

They have been remanded into custody by the court.
Earlier Ms Mercy Arthur, Senior State Attorney prayed the court to strike out the old charge sheet before the court and same was replaced.

However, there were no brief facts attached to the new charge sheet.

When the court drew the Senior State Attorney Attention to the fact that the charges were not supported by any facts, she contended that it was not mandatory to provide facts with charges but the facts could be presented orally.

Defence Counsel, Mr Akuetteh disagreed with prosecution's assertions indicating that charges must go with facts and the facts must support the charge sheet.

Mr Akuetteh held that they were in court to seek bail pending trial mainly on health grounds since Aisha has medical ailment which requires urgent medical attention.

He said contrary public opinion the charges he argued only attracts fines, besides Aisha went voluntarily went to the Police and cannot be said to be one who would abscond from justice.

He said Aisha was unaware of the directive that foreigners should not undertake small scale mining.

On May 18, defence counsel appeared before the court with a bail application pending trial. According to counsel he had filed the bail application on May 15.

He further held that his client would not interfere with investigations hence be granted bail pending trial.

On the bail application, Ms Arthur invited the court to decline bail as investigations were still on going, adding if the Aisha wants to be attended to by a medical officer, the prisons could best assist her.

Aisha and her accomplice are being accused allegedly undertaking small scale mining at Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region.

She is also said to have provided excavators to small scale mining companies around February 2015 to May 2017 without a valid license from the Minerals Commission and provided illegal employment to foreign nationals.

The accused persons were rounded up by the GIS in the Ashanti Region.

They were, consequently, transferred to Accra by the GIS for further investigations.

GNA