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Counsel for Aisha Huang, Captain Nkrabeah Effah Dartey (Rtd), has expressed shock over pronouncements made by the Lands and Energy Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, about his client.

Mr. Effah Dartey says he is even more surprised that the minister in question is a learned person who should know the law.

He has therefore described his comments as prejudicial and unfortunate, suggesting the judiciary is probably under intimidation by the government.

“I must confess I was very surprised to hear this from the minister and I’m more surprised because he is a learned colleague. I know he should be concerned about the case because he is the minister, but he shouldn’t be making such statements,” he said on TV3’s the Key Points Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Land and Natural Resources minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor at a media encounter had debunked earlier insinuations that Aisha Huang, the galamsey kingpin arrested and charged for engagaing in illegal mining among other charges is highly connected that she is not going to be tried but freed.

Meanwhile, he says Madam Huang was going to be kept in custody until the case is done, even if it travels for five years.

READ ALSO: ‘Ask Osafo-Maafo and Wontumi where Aisha Huang got her galamsey concessions’ – Captain Smart

“Nothing will be done to this woman. She will not even be prosecuted. She is so connected. She has, you know, excuse my language ‘sextapes with ministers, big government officials. She is connected all the way to the top’. That was the initial narrative. We all have to recall that and that government cannot do anything.

“Here we are, she’s been charged with the severest of offences. The Attorney General is prayed before the court successfully to secure a remand until conclusion of the case and that is totally unprecedented. It normally doesn’t happen. The court will normally remand an accuse person for a period of time and then on each occasion the lawyer for the accused persons will reapply for bail. The judge is allowed to grant bail.

“On this occasion, at the instance of the Attorney General, the accused person is being remanded until the conclusion of the case even if the case was to travel for five years, Aisha Huang would be in prison custody for five years,” Abu Jinapor, the Lands and Natural Resources minister, had disclosed.

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The statement, is what Mr. Effah Dartey has described as prejudicial and creates a negative impression between the government and the judiciary.

“Honestly I’m surprised that Jinapor the minister, a lawyer should be saying this in public. For me it is prejudicial. It’s unfortunate. It suggests the government is intimidating the judiciary. It’s very unfortunate,” he noted.

He added “Mr. Jinapor, who is a lawyer should know that a bail is a right” which should be granted her.

According to Madam Huang’s counsel, Abu Jinapor’s comments presupposes that “all application for bail must be truncated.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Effah Dartey says what the minister said was not the factual representation of what actually happened in court.

“What Hon. Jibapor said is not the factual representation of what happened in the court. On 27th September when the order was made that Aisha Huang be sent to prison custody, he was not there,” he added.

By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com|Ghana