By Charles Tawiah, GNA
Nkawie, (Ash), June 27, GNA – The Nkawie Circuit Court has sentenced four illegal miners, including two students to a total fine of GH¢16,800.00, for unlawfully entering the Desire Forest Reserve in the Nkawie forest district, prospecting for gold without authority.
Stephen Yeboah 20, and Pasooba Issifu 18, both students, pleaded guilty and were together fined GH¢3,600.00 each or serve two years imprisonment in default.
The two others, Kwabena Twumasi 29, and Issah Abubakar 25, both farmers, also pleaded guilty to the charges and were fined GH¢4,800.00 each.
The two farmers would serve three years imprisonment each in default of the payment of the fine.
Prosecuting, Police Inspector Jonas Newlove Agyei told the Court presided over by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey that, the complainant was the Range Manager of the Desire Forest Reserve near Nimasua number two, in the Ahafo-Ano North Municipality.
He said on June 06 this year, a joint military and police team, with forestry officials, went on patrols in the reserve and met the convicts together with about 20 others, now at large, busily mining for gold without authority in the forest.
They were arrested together with two motorbikes, four shovels and four pick axes.
Inspector Agyei said the convicts were transferred to the Manfo Police station and in their cautioned statements admitted to engaging in illegal mining after which they were charged and brought before the Court.
GNA
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