A Chinese national, known as Shi Yumeing or Smith, has been remanded by an Accra High Court for allegedly harboring En Huang, the alleged galamsey kingpin, after her repatriation in December 2018.
Shi is accused of renting an accommodation for En Huang, also known as Aisha Huang, in Kumasi when she illegally re-entered Ghana.
Charged with mining without a license and harboring a criminal, Shi pleaded not guilty before Justice Mrs. Lydia Osei Marfo. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 14, 2023.
The prosecution, led by State Attorney Watkins Adamah, stated that Shi was believed to be a former boyfriend of En Huang, who was repatriated from Ghana in 2018 due to her involvement in illegal mining activities. After her repatriation, En Huang was prohibited from entering Ghana without approval from the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service.
Investigations revealed that Shi took control of En Huang’s businesses in Kumasi and maintained regular communication with her after her repatriation. Moreover, during the period between October 2021 and January 2022, Shi engaged in mining operations at Nimbreso in the Ashanti Region without a permit. He reportedly paid GHC100,000 for the parcel of land used for mining but neglected to reclaim the concession after his illegal activities.
On September 2, 2022, En Huang and three other Chinese nationals, Huang Lei, Huang Hai Hua, and Jiang Li Hua, were arrested at a house in Ahodwo, Kumasi. Aisha had entered Ghana through an unauthorized route, disregarding the terms of her repatriation and the approval of the Comptroller-General.
The house in which En Huang was arrested was rented by Shi, who allegedly knowingly allowed her to stay there in defiance of the terms of her repatriation and to evade detection and arrest.
The investigation led to the arrest of Aisha, Huang Lei, Huang Hai Hua, Jiang Li Hua, Shi Mei Zhi, and Li Wei Guo. Aisha and her accomplices were arraigned, and the accomplices have been convicted for mining and immigration-related offenses.
“The accused person (Shi) was wanted in connection with other cases, but he remained in hiding until his arrest in June 2023.
“The accused person, through investigations, was found to be instrumental in the acquisition of forged or irregularly obtained immigration permits for the other five nationals,” the prosecution said.
It said Shi’s immigration status was currently being investigated.