In a case that has captured public attention for over a year, a female Chinese national along with a Chinese male and Ghanaian appeared before the High Court (Criminal Division) in 2022.
The case has taken a dramatic turn of events recently as the health of the female Chinese suspect deteriorated, leading to a suicide attempt that has placed her under close observation.
Since their arrest and subsequent arraignment, the two Chinese nationals have remained in detention while the Ghanaian has been granted bail.
The trial, which has attracted widespread interest, centres around serious allegations that the three individuals were involved in a complex criminal enterprise.
However, the focus has shifted to the well-being of the female Chinese suspect after a recent medical report indicated a significant deterioration in her health.
According to the report, she has been complaining of rapid heartbeats and her condition nearly caused her to collapse while in the Nsawam Female Prison.
Disturbingly, not too long after this incident, she made an attempted suicide with a cloth, prompting prison authorities to place her under constant suicide watch.
The defence team of the Chinese nationals have applied to the court severally requesting for bail for their clients, citing the deterioration in her health conditions and the potential human rights violation resulting from the prolonged detention which has been countered by the prosecution based on the seriousness of the charges and the potential flight risk to justify the continued detention.
In an unrelated matter, a Chinese national has been detained at the headquarters of the National Intelligence Bureau for over a month.
According to reports, the suspect was recently arraigned before the Circuit Court 4, where he faced charges related to alleged illegal mining activity among others.
However, the court declined jurisdiction to the charges being brought against him, leading to his immediate discharge but was immediately rearrested.
The charges till date remain unknown to him and his counsel, while he continues to rot in NIB custody.
As the case moves forward, all eyes are on the High Courts (Criminal Division) to address these concerns and take necessary actions to safeguard the rights and health of these foreign nationals.