The Kyebi Magistrate court presided over by Mrs Alice Efua Yirenkyi has fine four persons GH¢ 1,200.00 each and in default serve one-year jail sentence each for illegal mining in the Atiwa forest reserve.
The suspects are Enoch Oppong 48, a hunter from Nkwatia, Kwame Oppong 51, a farmer from Apreman, Patrick Birikorang 32, also a farmer from Apreman and Kofi Yeboah 42, a hunter from Akyem Herman.
The suspects were arrested on the October 6, mining illegally at the Sagyimase portion of the forest in the Obeng ne Obeng River located in the Atiwa forest reserve by personnel of the Forestry Services Division, Kyebi Range with the assistance from the Rapid Response team of the Forestry Commission.
In another development, two accused persons Tetteh Anorhia and Nana Yaw all from Potroase community who were arrested for illegal felling of trees in the Atiwa Forest, have been acquitted and discharged by the Kyebi Magistrate for lack of evidence.
The accused persons were arrested in the Potroase area of the Atiwa Forest Reserve by the Forestry Division and the Regional Monitoring Team of the Forestry Commission.
The presiding magistrate , Mrs Alice Efua Yirenkyi ruled that, items retrieved from the forest which includes 86 pieces of lumber and the unregistered Kia truck used to transport the wood are to be confiscated and sold and the proceeds paid to government coffers .
The court also directed that , others items retrieved from the forest which include, two chainsaw machines, a single barrel gun and cooking utensils should be confiscated and destroyed off by the Forestry Commission as deemed fit.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Palmer Aikins Amponsah, Forestry Officer in charge of the Kyebi Range, urged the public to desist from illegal activities in the Atiwa Forest.
