State oppose to Aisha, four others bail variations

Accra, Nov. 27, – The State has  filed a response opposing the motion   to vary  the bail conditions of Aisha Huang and four other Chinese, who have been accused of engaging in illegal mining in the Ashanti Region.

Sitting at an Accra High Court on Monday, Ms Mercy Arthur a State Attorney from Attorney General’s Department said they have filed an affidavit in opposition to the motion to vary the bail conditions.

Aisha Huang and her four accomplices namely: Gao Jin Cheng, 45; Lu Qi Jun 39; Habin Gao, 26; and Zhang Pen, 23; contend that reporting to the Police and the Ghana Immigration Service twice a week in Accra was a challenge.

The motion is before the court presided over by Mr Justice Iddrisu Abduallai and was filed on November 17.

Ms Huang was granted bail in the sum of GH₵500,000.00 with two sureties each to be justified by the court presided over by Mr Justice Ekow Baiden.

The four others namely Gao Jin Cheng, 45; Lu Qi Jun 39; Habin Gao, 26; and Zhang Pen, 23; were also admitted to bail in the sum of GH₵500,000.00 with one surety each. Each surety is to be justified.

Aisha, aka Aisha, or Yaa Asantewaa, has additionally been accused of providing mine support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission.

As part of the bail conditions, they were to report to the Police and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in Accra twice every week.

Moving the motion for variation on Monday, Mr Bernard Owiredu Donkor told the court that his client visit to Accra twice a week has brought untold hardship on them since they would have to have travel to Accra and rent hotels before presenting themselves to the Police and GIS.

According to Mr Donkor the hotel bills of his clients were eating them up and they did not know when the matter was going to end.

He said the financial stress was also affecting “the lawyer’s fees.”

Mr Donkor prayed the court to allow them report to the Police and GIS Regional Command in Kumasi adding that fair trial meant that parties are not overburdened with situations.

Counsel expressed his surprise at State’s decision to oppose the motion, adding that the alleged offence took place at Kumasi and the application was not a waste of the court’s time.

Ms Arthur then prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable her to file supplementary affidavit after counsel for Aisha had moved his motion for variation of bail conditions.

According to the state Attorney, she ought to consult the Police and GIS adding she did not hear from them before filing the affidavit in opposition.

The court then told her that she could only file supplementary affidavits based on points of law.

The court however adjourned to November 30 for state to be heard.

Aisha and her accomplices have been accused of undertaking their activities at Bepotenten in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region.

Aisha is also accused of providing excavators to small scale mining companies around February 2015 to May 2017 without a valid license from the Minerals Commission; and also providing illegal employment to foreign nationals.

The accused were rounded up by the GIS in the Ashanti Region and they were, consequently, transferred to Accra by the GIS for further investigations.

On May 9, this year, Aisha and her supposed accomplices were put before the High Court On November 17 this year; defence counsel filed a motion on bail variation.

GNA