Galamsey Kingpin En Huang, also known as Aisha Huang, has been sentenced to four years, and six months in prison by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Monday, December 4, 2023.
This was after the Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo, found her guilty on the charge of undertaking a mining operation without a license, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation and the illegal employment of foreigners.
Aisha Huang, who has also been slapped with a fine of GH¢48,000 has been in police custody since October 2022.
Although the Chinese National pleaded not guilty to some of the charges levelled against her, state prosecutors made a strong case against her when it brought 10 witnesses to testify against her.
Witnesses including Assemblyman for the Bepotenten electoral area in the Amansie Central District, Mathew Kwabla Abotsi also told the court that he saw Aisha Huang at the galamsey site where she employed workers to mine illegally.
State investigators also found out that the accused had no permit to mine or undertake any mining activities in Ghana.
In court, the prosecution led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Yvonne Atokora Obuobisa, proved beyond reasonable doubt that Aisha committed the crime.
While Aisha Huang had denied all the charges, it was the court’s view that she contradicted herself in her defence statements in the trial which lasted for one year, and two months.
Counsel for Aisha Miracle Attachey, in his plea of mitigation, said his client had been in custody since October 2022 and hence prayed the court to impose a fine and deport his client instead of a custodial sentence.
“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.
She has made the work of the prosecution and court move expeditiously regarding her re-entry charge.
In 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.
“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
