Crime and Punishment
Russian, Ukraine ‘galamseyers’ arraigned and charged
Three Russians and a Ukrainian accused of dealing in illegal mining (galamsey) at Tontokrom in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region have been dragged before the Accra Circuit Court.
The three Russians — Farid Isaev, Vadim Potokin and Serhii Chepurnly; and the Ukrainian, Genadly Rubec, have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and undertaking small-scale mining without a licence, contrary to Section 99 (2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
At the court hearing yesterday, the pleas of the alleged ‘galamseyers’ were not taken when they made gestures indicating they did not understand English and could only speak Russian.In view of that, the court, presided over by Ms Ruby Aryeetey, instructed the court registrar to arrange for a Russian interpreter to facilitate the continuation of the trial.
The presiding judge also remanded the four accused persons in police custody and adjourned the case to May 31, 2017.
