Court remands five Chinese 'illegal' miners

An Accra High Court has remanded five Chinese nationals, alleged to have engaged in illegal mining, galamsey, into prison custody. 

The five suspects, Gao Jin Cheng, 45; Lu Qi Jun, 39; Haibin Gao, 26; Zhang Zhang Pen, 23, and a woman, En Huang, 30, also known as Aisha Huang, believed to be the kingpin of the group, will be in custody at the Nsawam Prison until the next adjourned date, May 23. 

The Presiding Judge, Charles Baiden, said the two weeks plus adjournment, is to give the Immigration Service, ample time to conduct thorough investigations into the matter. 

Lawyer for the accused persons, Daniel Awuku, earlier prayed the Court to grant his clients bail, noting that their place of residence is known, because they were arrested in their own house. 

He intimated to the Court that he is ready to produce the passports of the accused persons, but the Court refused the application.

GBC