A-G levels fresh charges against Chinese galamseyer, Asia Huang

The Attorney-General (A-G) has added two more charges against Chinese Asia Huang who is being tried for some illicit activities in the country.

The amended sheet brings to four the total charges leveled against the foreign national.

They include;
(a).Undertaking small scale mining operations contrary Sec 99(1) of the Minerals and mining act

(b).Providing mining support service without valid registration from the Mineral’s Commission.

(c).Illegal employment of foreign nationals contrary to Section 24 of the Immigration Act, 2000.

(d).Disobedience of directive given under Immigration Act, 2000.

Asia Huang is standing trial together with four other Chinese for mining illegally in the Ashanti Region. Illegal mining is not permissible under Ghanaian law.

She was picked up when four Chinese nationals arrested for the same offence claimed they were instructed to mine by the Asia Huang.

The four, identified as Gao Jin Cheng, 45, Lu Qi Jun,39, Haibin Gao,26, and Zhang Zhi Peng,23, were apprehended at Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District of the Region by the Obuasi Immigration Command.

One of the four Chinese being escorted from the court by Immigration officers

They told the Immigration officers Asia Huang was in possession of their travelling documents.

Ms Huang is reported to have evaded several arrests for galamsey charges three times under the past National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

She is alleged to have highly pinfluential personalities in both the NDC and governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The A-G had initially charged her on two counts. They include an illegal employment of foreign nationals contrary to Section 24 of the Immigration Act, 2000 and disobedience of directive given under the same Act.

Pressure group, OccupyGhana had described the charges as 'soft' considering the havoc Ms Huang’s activities have done to the country’s environment.

At a court hearing Tuesday, the A-G appeared to have heeded the call of Occupy Ghana and amended the charge sheet by adding two more charges ones.

She will now be charged for engaging in illegal mining which is against Section 99(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act as well as for providing mining support services without valid registration.

Ms Huang is currently in detention at the Nsawam Prisons pending conclusion of investigation.

There have been attempts by her lawyers to secure bail but the judge is yet to rule on that application.

The sitting judge, Justice Charles Edward Ekow Baiden has set June 2, 2017 to give his ruling on the bail application.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | [email protected] | Instagram: @realbrakopowers