Illegal gold, money laundering: 2 Chinese, Ghanaians fined

A Circuit Court in Tarkwa in the Western Region presided over by Her Honour Ama Manu has fined two Chinese and Ghanaians respectively for unlawfully dealing in gold and money laundering.

Each of them was found liable to pay a fine or serve prison terms ranging between 10 to 15 years in default.

They are Chen Hung@Labania, Chen Zhili@Andy, Stephen Arthur and Prince Denis Aidoo.

The two Chinese Nationals were fined 120, 000 penalty units(GHC 1,440,000.00) while the  Ghanaians 100,000 and 120,000 penalty units equivalent to (GHC 1,200,000.00 and GHC 1440,000.00) respectively.

Additionally, the Court issued an order to confiscate several items found. They are;

1. The 11 kg Gold which is a proceed of the crime and deposit same with the Ministry of Mines and Natural Resources with immediate effect.

2. The three(3) laptops, chargers, rifles as well as ammunitions found to the state.

3. An amount of GHC 788,736, 00 to the state and make payment of 30% to the Judicial Service,15% to the Office of the Attorney General and 10% to the National Security. The amount outstanding is to be paid into the consolidated Fund and evidence of same is to be forwarded to the court by November 17, 2021.

4. Furthermore, the court gave Chen Hung a month to regularize her expired Ghanaian permit or face immigration proceedings.

CHARGES

Cheng Hung, Chen Zhili and Stephen Arthur were found to be dealing in gold without a licence while Prince Denis Aidoo has an expired licence. They were charged with eight(8) counts of offences;

1. CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT CRIME

2. BUYING MINERALS WITHOUT LICENCE

3. ABETMENT OF CRIME

4. CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT CRIME THUS SELLING MINERALS WITHOUT LICENCE

5. SELLING MINERALS WITHOUT LICENCE

6. ABETMENT OF CRIME THUS SELLING MINERALS WITHOUT LICENCE

7. CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT CRIME THUS MONEY LAUNDERING

8. MONEY LAUNDERING

The Office of the Attorney General is indicating its commitment to fight against illegal Gold business, Economic crime and crime in general.

It has therefore indicated its determination not to renege on its quest to make crime an unattractive enterprise thus charged state prosecutors to continue to relentlessly see to the expeditious trial of criminal cases in the country.

https://news.dennislawgh.com/illegal-gold-money-laundering-2-chinese-ghanaians-fined/