En Huang, aka Aisha Huang, a Chinese woman accused of running a galamsey ring, broke down on Wednesday when the Accra High Court again denied her request for bail.
Captain Retired Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, Aisha Huang’s attorney, reapplied for her bail, citing the fact that Aisha was released on bond throughout her 2017 trial.
The defense attorney retorted, “I’m not saying you should break up with her. I simply ask that you provide her freedom to move around while the case is still pending, subject to the restrictions the court may impose.
“My client never missed any court hearings five years ago when she was facing similar accusations and was on trial.
Aisha was broken, the attorney explained, since she had been repeatedly turned down for bail.
You should be aware that being imprisoned or in detention is not simple. I’ve experienced that, so I understand how it feels,” he continued.
However, the application was denied by the court, which was presided over by Mrs. Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, on the grounds that the trial had already begun and was proceeding more quickly.
The court declared that the defendant was “a flight risk” because she was a foreigner and had no social or other links to the area.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, introduced Superintendent of Immigration, Reuben Ransford Aborabora, in evidence as the trial got underway.
As part of his duties on May 5, 2017, he directed six other GIS officials to verify the legality of foreign nationals’ entry visas into the nation, according to the first prosecution witness.
The officers from the GIS Enforcement Unit traveled to Bepotenten in the Ashanti Region’s Amansie Central District.
The purpose of their visit to Bepotenten, according to Supt. Aborabora, was to confirm information “our office had received to the effect that some Chinese nationals and others were involved in illicit mining at Bepotenten despite the government’s ban on such activities.”
When the first prosecution witness arrived at Bepotenten, he claimed a container with machine parts was on a road that ran through the construction site.
Along with the gasoline barrels, there were also freshly dug-out sand heaps and barrels of petrol.
A cocoa farm was nearby, and portion of it had been cleared, while dug-out holes contained some water, he continued.
“At the location, I heard the sound of generators and operating excavators,” claimed Supt. Aborabora. I spotted a total of six excavators, four of which were in operation.
Supt. Aborabora reported that at Bepotenten, the team detained four Chinese nationals, among them Gao Jin Cheng, who told the squad that they were there to mine for Aisha.
The four allegedly informed the team that they were with Aisha when he asked them for their passports.
As a result, he used his cell phone to capture the mining operations at Bepotenten, then copied the footage to a Compact Disc and then a pen drive.
Thus, the video tape was used as evidence in court.
The officer insisted that Aisha was not at Bepotenten when his squad visited while responding to questions posed during cross-examination by Capt. Effah Dartey.
Additionally, the officer stated that he had no concrete information against Aisha for unlawful mining.
Gao, who also had their passports, was the one who informed him that they were at the mine site for Aisha.
“If Gao Jin Chen supplied you incorrect information, then your source is incorrect,” said the defense counsel (DC).
Yes, my Lord, I just relayed what Gao Jin Cheng had told me, and I sent that information along with my report to the GIS Enforcement Unit in Kumasi for additional research.
DC: “At Bepotenten, you and your soldiers conducted routine activities.”
“Not quite, but we go there as and when my superior officer in charge directs,” said the witness.
DC: “Are you aware that some of your guys were always getting shady?”
“No, my Lord, I have no personal information to that effect,” the witness said.
Aisha is being detained after allegations surfaced that she participated in illicit mining activity at Bepotenten in the Ashanti Region in 2017.
She is accused of conducting mining activities without a license and encouraging people to participate in mining.
Aisha is also charged with illegally hiring foreign nationals and entering Ghana while it was forbidden for her to do so.