10 in prison custody for illegal mining

Fiapre,(B.A),Aug.9, Space FM-The Fiapre Circuit Court presided over by His Lordship Benjamin Yaw Osei, has remanded 10 people into prison custody for allegedly practising illegal mining at Afrisipakrom and in the Tano North District.

The accused persons, whose plea were not taken, are to reappear on August 10, 2011.

According the facts of the case as presented by Police Superintendent F.K. Agyei, the complaints in the case are the Police Officers from the regional command, while the accused persons are residents of Afrisipakrom, Adankokrom, Tanoso, Fanesaa and its environs.

Superintendent Agyei said on August 2, 2011, the police received information that the accused persons together with others who are on the run, were engaged in illegal mining at Afrisipakrom and had polluted the Tano river, which serves as source of drinking water for the people living in the area.

Prosecution said the illegal miners washed the sand with mercury in the Tano river. Armed with that information, the complainants proceeded to Afrisipakrom.

According to the prosecutor, when the complainants arrived at the scene, the accused persons were found seriously engaged in illegal mining and upon seeing the police, they took to their heels while others were arrested.

The accused persons together with the exhibits were taken to the regional police command for further investigation.

Source: Nana Ama Annor, Space FM, Sunyani