The Koforidua Circuit Court B has remanded into police custody three persons who were arrested for mining activities in the Birim River between Akwabuoso and Akrofufu in the Atewa West District of the Eastern Region.
Gideon Gabor 32, Agyemang Meshach 24 and Boampong Livingston 43 were charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit illegal mining and mining without a license on Thursday, October 16.
They were busily engaging in illegal mining activities, commonly called galamsey, when the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners task force clamped down on them in a special operation to get rid of illegal miners operating within water bodies.
Their pleas were not taken by the court presided over by Her Honour Matilda Ribeiro.
The suspects whose charges were read to them in court later told the court that the facts as presented by the prosecution were untrue as they were arrested on their return from an errand and prayed the court to grant them bail as they will avail themselves anytime the court needs them.
The prosecution told the court that police investigations were almost done so they prayed the court to adjourn the case.
The presiding judge adjourned the case and tasked the prosecution to conclude their investigations before the next court date on November 4, 2024.
