Chinese Illegal Gold Dealer Jailed 15 years

A Sekondi-Takoradi High Court has sentenced a Chinese national, Chen ZHILI alias Andy, to 15years imprisonment with hard labour, after he was caught engaging in illegal purchase and trading of gold, without requisite licenses.

Chen ZHILI was sentenced yesterday, June 6, 2022, by the court presided over by His Lordship Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere J.

The convict was arrested together with other accomplices, following a special operation conducted by a special unit of the National Security at the premises of Alpha QH Global GH Company Limited at Bogoso in the Western Region.

The special unit of the National Security received intelligence that the company operated by the suspects, were engaging in illegal gold business without licenses from neither the Minerals Commission nor the Precious Minerals Marketing Company.

Other accomplices include; Chen Hungalias Labania – a Chinese national, Stephen Arthur and Prince Dennis Aidoo, proprietors of Prince Marvic Ventures – both Ghanaian nationals.

During the swoop, reports said, some golds and cash were also confiscated to the state.

The suspects were charged after investigation and arraigned before the Tarkwa Circuit Courtpresided over by Her Honor Hathia Ama Manu, on September 8, 2021, where they pleaded not guilty to all the charges and were subsequently granted bail.

They, however, changed their pleas of not guilty to guilty and the court convicted them on their own pleas.

But on November 24, last year, the Attorney General’s office upon a review of the judgement, filed a motion on notice for judicial review at the Sekondi-Takoradi High Court.

The state argued that, upon conviction of the convicts, the trial Circuit Court committed an error of law by the imposition of fines only, on the convicts, which was in breach of provisions of statute.

The High Court, in its ruling quashed the earlier ruling by the Circuit Court in Tarkwa and a bench warrant was issued for their arrest.

Luck, however, eluded Chen Zhilion May 31, 2022, when the operatives arrested him at the Osu Police Station and arraigned him before the Sekondi-Takoradi High Court, leading to his conviction yesterday, June6, 2022.

source:theanchorghana