Four Chinese nationals charged for illegal mining

Assin Fosu (C/R), April 3, GNA - Four Chinese nationals were on Thursday arraigned at the Assin Fosu District Magistrate Court charged wi= th illegal mining. The pleas of Masung Ping, Jia Tongwen, Zhou Mang Bi and Jia Yua Jin were not taken, but the court granted them bail in the sum of GH¢5,000.= 00 each to re-appear on April 14, 2010.

Prosecuting, DSP Kwarteng Addae told the court presided over by Mr Joseph Blay that sometime in October 2009, an official of the Mines and Mineral Commission of Assin North Municipal Assembly, paid a working visi= t to Assin Assaman and saw that the accused persons have mounted a boat on the Offin River and were dredging in search of gold. The prosecutor said the case was reported to the Municipal Security Council which paid an unannounced visit to the area on January 13, 2010, and saw the accused persons working on the Offin River. He said they were arrested and brought to Assin Foso police station and charged with the offence. 03 April 10