The Accra High Court has granted bail to gold dealership firm Rafmoh Gold Ltd and five others, each with a bail of GHC50 million, with two sureties.
The alleged gold smugglers pleaded not guilty to charges of smuggling 100kg of gold worth GHC100 million.
As part of the bail conditions, one of the sureties has to be justified, and they are to report to investigators every other day.
In court on Thursday, October 16, pleas of the third accused, Abdul Karim and seventh accused, Sadique Abubakari, were taken when they were arraigned before the court, having earlier been on the run.
Lead counsel for the duo, Paul Asibi Abarigah, intimated to the court that his clients willingly reported to the Police when they found out they had been listed as wanted.
Rafmoh Gold Limited, the gold dealership firm, the first accused (A1), was charged together with Abdul Karim (A3), Abdul Razak Seidu (A4), Bernard Nkrumah (A5), Ibrahim Aremeyaw (A6), and Sadique Abubakari (A7).
The second accused person, Muhammed Afsah Puthalan, remains on the run and at large.
All six accused persons have been charged together with two counts of conspiracy to smuggle gold and transportation of gold without the necessary documentation and authorisation, contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 66(1)(b) of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140).
Asibi Abarigah prayed for bail for his clients, stressing that they had exhibited good faith by presenting themselves to the Police and cooperating without interfering in the investigations.
“The accused are not and will not be a flight risk, and they will not interfere with witnesses and evidence of granted bail by this honourable court. They have not made any attempt or whatsoever while under police enquiry bail to influence or interfere with evidence or investigation,” the lawyer added.
Prosecution led by Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem-Sai did not oppose the bail application.
Justice Ruby Aryeetey, presiding over the matter, granted the bail using the same terms as the other four.
The case has been adjourned to November 6.
