Before ending his ruling on the bail applications filed by counsels for four Chinese nationals, the judge said illegal mining has affected the environment so much that all the fishes have ran away.

His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah also said not only has the aquatic lives been affected by galamsay but other creatures that also depend on these polluted water bodies.

After passing these comments, the Accra Circuit Court ‘9’ dismissed the bail applications filed by the galamsay queen, Aisha Huang also known as En Huang and Huang Ruixia and three others.

He also Aisha Huang, in particular, is alleged to have ever been arrested for illegal mining but sneaked out of the country to avert trial

In reference to Aisha Huang alleged pervious conduct, the court said it is highly position that she might not appear for trial or interfere with witnesses or jeopardize police investigation.

Aisha Huang was charged with two counts, namely engaging in the sales and purchases of minerals without valid license and mining without license. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Others, Johng Li Hua, Huang Jei and Huaid Hai Hun were charged with engaging in the sales and purchases of minerals without valid license but they also pleaded not guilty.

Aisha Huang, Huang Jei and Huaid Hai Hun were represented by Captain Nkrabeah Effah Dartey (Rtd) while Johng Li Hua’s legal counsel was Franklyn Kumakoh.

The brief facts presented by the prosecutor, Detective Chief Inspector Frederick Sarpong was that the complainants in this case are Security and Intelligence officers based in Accra.

He told the court that all the accused are Chinese nationals who have gained notoriety in engaging in series of illegal small-scale mining activity known as “galamsey” across the country.

According to him, during the year 2017, Aisha Huang was arrested for a similar offence but managed to sneak out of the country, averting prosecution.

The prosecutor said during the early part of this year, Aisha sneaked back into the country after having changed the details on her Chinese passport and resumed the illegal small-scale mining activities without license and together with the three others.

He told the court that the national were engaged in the purchases and sale of minerals in Accra without valid authority granted as required by the Minerals and Mining Act.

And in fact, Johng, Huang and Huaid were into the sale of equipment used in illegal mining activities.

Upon intelligence, the accused persons were arrested and investigation has just commenced. We pray the honorable court remands the accused persons into lawful custody to enable conclusive investigation into the case.