FLASHBACK: Aisha Huang and her accomplices
An Accra High Court has revoked the bail granted to Chinese national, Gao Jin Cheng, an accomplice of Aisha Huang, who is standing trial for engaging in illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey’ in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
This was after Chief State Attorney, Mercy Arthur filed a motion on notice, praying the court to revoke the bail granted him last year.
The accused, according to the prosecution, attempted to run away to avert trial for his alleged involvement in illegal mining.
The court, presided over by Justice Charles Ekow Baiden, granted the motion and remanded him into custody.
The court has also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of another accused person, Lu Qin Jun after he continuously failed to appear before the court.
The prosecution, his lawyer and colleagues do not know his whereabouts.
This forced the prosecutor to pray the court to issue the arrest warrant, which was granted by the presiding judge.
Meanwhile, the court has asked the prosecution to come formally with its prayer for the revocation of the bail granted to the rest of the accused persons.
According to Ms Arthur, the accused had always used one excuse or the other to dodge the trial after being granted bail.
This, she said, was affecting trial.
The prosecutor said the accused have difficulties in taking care of themselves and so attend hospital on numerous occasions to disrupt the trial.
She, therefore, prayed the court to revoke their bail and remand them into custody.
Their lawyer, Captain (rtd) Nkrabea Effah Dartey, prayed the court to reject the prosecution’s request.
According to him, the accused persons do not live at the same place so in case the court wants to revoke their bail it should consider them individually and not as a group.
Justice Ekow Baiden, however, asked the prosecution to formally present their application to the court which focuses on records.
The matter has been adjourned May 24, 2018.
Aisha Huang and four other Chinese nationals Gao Jin Cheng, Lu Qi Jun, Habin Gao and Zhang Pen, filed the application two weeks ago, praying the court to show some clemency and review some of the bail conditions, which they claim was having financial toll on them.
The five were arrested in Kumasi for their alleged involvement in large-scale illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’ and were brought to Accra to face trial.
She was granted bail by the court in June 2017 in the sum of GH¢500,000, with two sureties to be justified.
The four others- Gao Jin Cheng, 45; Lu Qi Jun 39; Habin Gao, 26 and Zhang Pen, 23- were also granted bail in the sum of GH?500,000.00, with one surety each who must be a Ghanaian by birth. Each surety is to be justified.
By Gibril Abdu Razak