Aisha Huang, the Chinese national accused of engaging in illegal mining, could face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty of the charges against her.
The 36-year-old ‘galamsey queen’ has been charged with mining without a valid license and engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals without a permit.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges when she appeared before the Circuit Court in Accra on September 14, 2022, for her bail application hearing.
The court presided over by His Honour Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah while ruling on her bail application said, the accused’s punishment ranges from a minimum fine of 30,000 penalty units equivalent to (GHc360, 000) to 20 years in jail.
The charges of Aisha Huang which are contrary to sections under the Minerals and Mining Act 2015, (Act 900), prescribed a minimum fine of 30,000 penalty units to 300,000 penalty units and a maximum jail term of 20 years, or both fine and imprisonment.
Aisha Huang is standing trial with three other Chinese nationals; Jong Li Hua, Huang Jei and Huaid Hai Hun who have all been slapped with the same charges.
The accused have been remanded into lawful custody. They are to reappear on September 27, 2022.
