Seven persons granted GH¢30,000.00 bail

Tarkwa (W/R), Sept. 26, GNA - The Tarkwa Circuit Court has granted bail in the sum of GH¢30,000.00 with three sureties to seven people for allegedly prospecting for gold without authority.

The accused persons aged between 22 and 32 years, were charged for conspiracy to commit crime, prospecting for gold without authority and being on a premises for unlawful purpose.

They pleaded not guilty to all the charges and would re-appear before the court on October 2, 2017.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Faustina Celestina Anaman told the court that the complainant, one Albert Wommah, is a security officer at Aboso Goldfeilds Limited (AGL) Damang and resides at Aboso, in the Prestea Huni/Valley district, whiles the accused persons, Samuel Kumi, Francis Asmah, John Mensah, Simin Teye, Joseph Cobbinah, Ata Panyin, Samuel Monkoh and Kwaku are unemployed and farmers.

She said on September 9, this year, the complainant and his team of security officers from AGL mining company had information that a group of people were prospecting for gold in one of the mining company's pits near Damang.

Chief Inspector Anaman said the complainant and his team went to the site and met the accused persons busily prospecting for gold in the pit.

The prosecutor said one Kwaku, who was among the accused persons escaped upon seeing the security men.

She said the others were arrested together with some quality stones believe to contain gold, two shovels, five hammers, two chisels, two hoes and empty sacks, were all handed over to the police.

The accused persons in their caution statement said the AGL had abandoned the pit for years without working in it and so they went there to extract gold from some of the stones to make a living.

GNA

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