Sex trafficker registers non-existent hotel
Gilbert Boyefio
24/03/2009
The non-existing hotel that was used by a Chinese couple to traffic some Chinese nationals into Ghana for sex trade was registered as James Garden Chinese Restaurant, an officer of the Ghana Immigration Service disclosed in court yesterday.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, George Annan, told the court that he knew James Xu Jim and his wife, Chow Xiou Ying because they have officially registered as legal residents with the Immigration Service. He said records on the third accused person, Sam Shan shows that he is a visitor to the country.
The three Chinese nationals, James Xu Jim, his wife, Chow Ziou Ying and Sam Shan are facing two counts of offences, namely, conspiracy and human trafficking. They have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The immigration officer, who is with the operations department told the court in his Evidence-in-Chief that according to their records James Xu Jim registered a restaurant by name James Garden Chinese Restaurant with Box number CT 1412, Accra.
He said the accused persons brought into the country $11,400 through the International Commercial Bank Limited. He said James Xu Jim had an additional GH¢2000 as start up capital.
He explained to the court that the Immigration Service become privy to this information after the Residence Promotion Desk of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre brought it to their notice.
He further explained that they also obtained some of the information when the accused persons applied for resident permit, which requires the applicant to provide information as ones business registration and certificate of incorporation.
He observed that in most of the cases the Resident permit is issued based on letters they receive from the GIPC.
Dept. Supt Annan emphasized to the court that James Xu Jim documents indicated that he was into the catering service.
He pointed out that the GIS has a monitoring section that monitors permits issued and also follow up on information given to them which they doubt. He however disclosed that they did not follow up on the information given by the accused person because they did not doubt it.
Meanwhile, Counsel for the three Chinese human traffickers, BOK Johnson, has requested the court to recall the second and third prosecution witnesses (name withheld) to the witness stand due to new evidence that has come to the notice of the defence.
This was challenged by the police prosecutor on the grounds that both the accused persons and their counsel were in court when the two witnesses gave evidence and they were also given the opportunity to cross examine them.
The court however acceded the request of the defence. According to the judge, she did so out of an abundance of caution. She further indicated that she does not want to give anyone a reason to question her judgment in the case in future.
24/03/2009
The non-existing hotel that was used by a Chinese couple to traffic some Chinese nationals into Ghana for sex trade was registered as James Garden Chinese Restaurant, an officer of the Ghana Immigration Service disclosed in court yesterday.
Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, George Annan, told the court that he knew James Xu Jim and his wife, Chow Xiou Ying because they have officially registered as legal residents with the Immigration Service. He said records on the third accused person, Sam Shan shows that he is a visitor to the country.
The three Chinese nationals, James Xu Jim, his wife, Chow Ziou Ying and Sam Shan are facing two counts of offences, namely, conspiracy and human trafficking. They have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The immigration officer, who is with the operations department told the court in his Evidence-in-Chief that according to their records James Xu Jim registered a restaurant by name James Garden Chinese Restaurant with Box number CT 1412, Accra.
He said the accused persons brought into the country $11,400 through the International Commercial Bank Limited. He said James Xu Jim had an additional GH¢2000 as start up capital.
He explained to the court that the Immigration Service become privy to this information after the Residence Promotion Desk of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre brought it to their notice.
He further explained that they also obtained some of the information when the accused persons applied for resident permit, which requires the applicant to provide information as ones business registration and certificate of incorporation.
He observed that in most of the cases the Resident permit is issued based on letters they receive from the GIPC.
Dept. Supt Annan emphasized to the court that James Xu Jim documents indicated that he was into the catering service.
He pointed out that the GIS has a monitoring section that monitors permits issued and also follow up on information given to them which they doubt. He however disclosed that they did not follow up on the information given by the accused person because they did not doubt it.
Meanwhile, Counsel for the three Chinese human traffickers, BOK Johnson, has requested the court to recall the second and third prosecution witnesses (name withheld) to the witness stand due to new evidence that has come to the notice of the defence.
This was challenged by the police prosecutor on the grounds that both the accused persons and their counsel were in court when the two witnesses gave evidence and they were also given the opportunity to cross examine them.
The court however acceded the request of the defence. According to the judge, she did so out of an abundance of caution. She further indicated that she does not want to give anyone a reason to question her judgment in the case in future.
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