An Accra Criminal Court, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, has sentenced the remaining two Chinese nationals standing trial with Galamsey Queen Aisha Huang’s son.
Huang Haihua and Shi Yang, alias Philip, were charged together with Huang Lei, Aisha’s son, who was convicted on his own plea from not guilty to guilty.
The sentence of Haihua and Shi also follows the changing of their not guilty plea guilty.
They were charged with possession of forged residence permit and ammunition.
Justice Marfo sentences Haihua to a maximum fine of 1,000 on each of the five counts.
Haihua was guilty of one count, possession of forged residence permit, while Yang was held liable for possession of forged residence permit and ammunition.
The court ordered that upon failure to pay the fine, the convicts would serve two years imprisonment in hard labour.
Per the current rate, a unit fine is GH¢12.00, therefore, each of the convict would pay GH¢12,000.00.
Meaning Yang was sentenced on four counts, which should result in a fine of GH¢48,000, but would only pat GH¢12,000.00, because the charges are to run concurrently.
The court explained that it took into consideration the circumstance of the case, as well as the youthful nature of Huang Lei, being a first time offender.
It also took into account Haihua pleading early, which had saved the court’s time and resources. “I will sentence the 2nd accused person (Haihua) to pay a fine of one thousand penalty units, and in default he should serve two years imprisonment in hard labour.”
Justice Marfo added that Shi was sentenced on the previous preamble, and was to pay a fine of one thousand penalty units, and in default serve a prison sentence of two years in hard labour on counts four, five, six, seven and eight.
Facts
Watkins Adama, State Attorney, read the facts to the court that sometime in August, 2022, the National Security Council Secretariat, the Ghana Immigration Service, as well as other security agencies received intelligence that Huang Lei and Huang Haihua, together with other foreign nationals, had remained in the country without permits and were also suspected to be engaged in illegal mining activities.
On September 2, 2022, a team of security officers visited the residence of Lei and Haihua at Ahodwo in Kumasi, where they were arrested.
The arresting officers also found and arrested at the same residence Jian Li Hau, who is said to be the girlfriend of Huang Lei, and one Ruixia Huang, also known as En Huang or Aisha Huang.
Aisha Huang was repatriated from Ghana in December 2018, on the directive of the Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigrate (GIS), the directive is still in force.
The arresting team retrieved from Huang Lei his Chinese passport, with number E44932112. Affixed in his passport is a permit issued by the Director of Immigration with number EP-002029, which authorised Lei to remain in Ghana until May 16, 2022.
Lei, upon his arrest and interrogation, admitted he did not have a valid permit to remain in Ghana.
A search conducted in Lei’s room revealed ammunition among other things, including eight packs of Eley shotgun cartridges containing about 250 pieces of ammunition, but Lei was not able to provide a valid license for them.
Huang Haihua also had in his possession a Chinese passport bearing his name with number EC4624083, and affixed it was what appears to be a Republic of Ghana residence permit.
The said the permit number was RP-0386869, purportedly to have been issued by the Director of Immigration for one year with effect from May 26, 2022.
However, investigations disclosed that the supposed permit was not issued by or with the consent or authority of the Ghana Immigration Service.
Based on further intelligence gathered, the team of security officers visited a property at Daban, Kumasi, on September 14, 2022, where Shi Yang, together with others, were also arrested on suspicion of remaining in Ghana without the requisite permits, as well as engaging in illegal mining operations.
A Chinese passport, with number E716840608, bearing the name and other particulars of Yang was retrieved from him.
Affixed in the said passport was what appears to be a Republic of Ghana Residence Permit, with number RP0386576, purportedly issued by the Director of Immigration for one year with effect from May 26, 2022.
However, investigations disclosed that the supposed permit was not issued by or with the consent or authority of the Ghana Immigration Service.
Also retrieved from Yang’s room were 83 pieces of live 9mm ammunition, three pieces of live 8mm bullets, 22 pieces of live BB ammunition, and three pieces of live AA ammunition, all of which were in the possession of Yang without legal authority.
