10 Chinese arrested for illegal mining
Ten Chinese who allegedly engaged in illegal mining in Obuasi and its environs have been remanded in police custody by the Accra Circuit Court.
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They pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing firearms without authority. They made their plea through an interpreter.
The suspects are Wei Hanwei, an excavator engineer; Huang Huan Kao and Meng Xing Gou, both mechanics; Zhang Xiong Fei, an engineer; Li Hia Jian, a mechanic, He Shi Lin, an engineer and Lu Shu Ming.
The rest are Wei Guo Cai, Zhou Ping and Li Qicho, all mechanics.
Background
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Stephen Adjei told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Francis Obiri, a High Court judge, that the police received a report that some Chinese were engaged in illegal mining in Obuasi and its environs.
He said personnel from the National Operation Unit of the Ghana Police Service mounted an operation in Obuasi on May 9, 2015 and arrested the accused.
Mr Adjei said a search conducted on their premises led to the retrieval of arms and ammunition and some equipment.
It included eight pump action guns, one locally made pistol with four live ammunition, 21 live ammunition and 198 cartridges. The rest were communication equipment.
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He therefore prayed the court to remand the accused persons in custody, since the police were still carrying out further investigations into the case.