According to a Graphic Online publication, En Huang, also known as Aisha Huang, has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison, as well as a GH¢48,000 fine.
Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo, presiding over the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court, has declared Aisha guilty of various offences. These include conducting a mining operation without a license, facilitating the involvement of individuals in mining activities, and illegally employing foreigners. Furthermore, Aisha has been convicted for unlawfully entering Ghana after being prohibited from re-entry. Once she completes her sentence, she will be deported.
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Despite Aisha’s denial of all charges, the court discovered inconsistencies in her defence statements throughout the one-year, two-month trial. Aisha’s lawyer, Miracle Attachey, appealed for a fine and deportation instead of imprisonment, highlighting the fact that his client has been in custody since October 2022.
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“It is our humble prayer that a custodial sentence to the accused would exert another financial burden on the state, particularly the prison service”, he added.
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She has made the work of the prosecution and court move expeditiously regarding her re-entry charge.
In a sharp response, the DPP said, taking into consideration the impact of Aisha’s action on the families and witnesses who testified before this court, it was imperative for the court to impose a maximum custodial sentence and a deportation order.
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“In conclusion, we wish to state that because of the indignity with which the accused person operated, the sentence should reflect the impact of her actions on the people of Ghana, the communities that she had permanently impaired and the livelihoods that she took away,” she added
Background
En Huang was accused of being in the thick of galamsey, especially in the Ashanti Region.
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She was deported from the country in 2018 after the A-G decided to discontinue her trial in which she was accused of engaging in small-scale mining without a licence.
However, she was said to have sneaked back into the country to allegedly engage in the same activities for which she was deported.
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In October 2022, the A-G then decided to prosecute her for the alleged crimes before her deportation and the new ones committed since her entry back into the country.
It is the case of the prosecution that Aisha had an illegal mining concession at Bepotenten in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region and also operated a mining support services company.
She had pleaded not guilty to undertaking a mining operation without a licence, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, the illegal employment of foreigners, and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry.
But on May 3, this year, Aisha pleaded guilty to entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry, contrary to section 20(4) of the Immigration Act, 2000, Act 573.
That was after she had entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the state (office of the Attorney General).
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Portions of information used in this report were culled from Graphic Online
