Accra, Nov. 27, - The State is
seeking a change of jurisdiction in the matter of two Russians and two
Ukrainians who were arrested and put before an Accra Circuit Court for engaging
in illegal mining in Ashanti Region.
Ms Mercy Arthur a state attorney
who took over prosecution told the court looking where incident took place they
would prefer to go to a higher court.
The court presided over by Mr
Aboagye Tandoh said it was in the bosom of the Chief Justice to change
jurisdiction in an ongoing case.
Counsel for the accused persons
was of the view that change of jurisdiction could be raised only if his clients
were concerned about the current status of the court.
The accused persons Farid Isaev,
Vadim Potokia, Saerhii Chepurniy all engineers and Genadiy Rubee, a Site
Engineer are said to have engaged in illegal mining in the Ashanti Region.
The four who are of Russian and
Ukrainian origins have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit
undertaking small scale mining without license and undertaking small scale
mining without license.
The accused persons who pleaded
not guilty are on bail.
Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent
of Police (DSP) Cletus Abadamlora who handled the matter earlier said the
complainant is a Police officer attached to the Lands and Forestry Ministry,
whiles accused were foreigners from
Russia and Unkraine but residents in country precisely Tontokrom in the Ashanti
Region.
DSP Abadamlora said the Ministry
of Lands and Forestry recently gave an ultimatum to all small scale mining
companies and illegal miners popularly known as “galamseyers” operating in the
country to stop until their activities were regulated.
Prosecution said government thus
banned any form of small scale mining until further notice.
On May 22, this year, the sector
Minister Mr John Peter Amewu and a team including the complainant went on a
fact finding mission to ensure that the ban was being complied with at Manso
Tontokrom.
On their arrival, DSP Abadamlora
said they met the accused persons busily engaged in illegal mining.
The accused persons were using
heavy equipment which had destroyed vast land including cocoa farms of the
inhabitants and polluted their source of water.
When the accused persons were
questioned, they said they were employees of Geo Professional Services, a
Mining company.
GNA
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