Court fines galamsey operator

The Tarkwa Circuit Court on Wednesday fined a 31-year old galamsey operator, Nana Abeka, 600 Ghana cedis for unlawfully being on the concession of Goldfields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine.

The accused, who pleaded guilty, would serve 18 months imprisonment in default of the fine.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah, told the court, presided by Mr Justice Obeng Asante, that the complainants were security officers of Goldfields Ghana Ltd, Tarkwa, while the accused resides at Brahabebome, a suburb of Tarkwa.

hief Inspector Amponsah said at about 5.30 a.m.on September 11, last year, the complainants were on their normal patrol duty within the mine's concession when they spotted the accused person carrying a sack of sand suspected to contain gold nuggets.

The prosecutor said the accused person was arrested with the exhibit and handed over to the police for interrogation.

He said after a thorough investigation the accused person was charged with the offence.