A Tarkwa Circuit Court presided over by Her Honour Hathia Ama Manu has convicted two Chinese nationals, Chen Hung@ Labania And Chen Zhili@ Andy, and two Ghanaians, Stephen Arthur And Prince Denis Aidoo for unlawfully dealing in gold and money laundering.
The Court found each of them liable to pay a fine or in default serve prison terms ranging between 10 to 15years.
The case was prosecuted by Adelaide Kobiri – Woode (Mrs.) and assisted by Maara Pelpuo, Ewura-Abena Tweneboa Attafuah and Emmanuella Sarah Asmah, all Assistant State Attorneys, at the Takoradi Office of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice.
CONVICTION AND SENTENCE
The Circuit Court on 5th November,2021 convicted and found the two Chinese nationals liable to pay a fine of 120,000 penalty units (GH₵1,440.000.00) each or in default serve 15 years each in prison.
The two Ghanaians were also fined 100,000 and 120,000 penalty units (GH₵1,200,000.00 and GH₵1440,000.00) respectively, or in default, serve prison terms of 10years and 15years respectively.
The court additionally issued an order to confiscate the 11kg of gold, which is a proceed of the crime to the state and deposit same with the Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources with immediate effect.
The Court also confiscated 3 laptops, chargers, rifles as well as the ammunitions found to the State;
It also confiscated an amount of GH₵ 788,736.00 to the State and for payment of 30% to be made to the Judicial Service,15% to the Office of the Attorney General and 10% to the National Security.
The amount outstanding is to be paid into the Consolidated Fund and evidence of the payment is be forwarded to the court by 17th November, 2021.
The court also gave Chen Hung a month to regularize her permit to stay in Ghana as it had expired or face immigration proceedings.
The court has subsequently directed the Attorney-General and Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) to ensure that the Orders are carried out.
CHARGES
Chen Hung, Chen Zhili and Stephen Arthur were found to be dealing in gold without licenses while Prince
Denis Aidoo’s license had expired. They were charged with eight (8) counts of offences;
1.Conspiracy to commit crime, to wit buying minerals without licence
2.Buying minerals without licence
3.Abetment of crime, to wit buying minerals without licence
4.Conspiracy to commit crime, to wit selling minerals without licence
5.Selling minerals without licence
6.Abetment of crime, to wit selling minerals without licence
7.Consipiracy to commit crime, to wit money laundering
8.Money laundering
With the exception of Prince Denis Aidoo who was not charged under counts 7 and 8, the rest were charged on all 8 counts.
COMMITMENT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL GOLD BUSINESS, ECONOMIC CRIME AND CRIME IN GENERAL.
It bears reiterating that the conviction of these criminals and more in recent times, epitomises the Attorney-General’s commitment to make crime an unattractive enterprise. On the basis of this commitment, the Attorney-General has charged state prosecutors to continue to relentlessly see to the expeditious trial of criminal cases in the country.