Takoradi Circuit Court “A” on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of 5,000 Ghana cedis with two sureties each to six persons for allegedly conspiring to commit crime, entering a forest reserve without authority and illegal mining.

The accused persons are Joseph Coffie, 40, Emmanuel Okrah, 28, Emmanuel Acquah, 24, Samuel Mensah, 22, Kofi Nsowaa, 28, and Issaka Ayariga, 38.

They all pleaded not guilty and are to re-appear on December 10.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Fuseini Yakubu, told the court presided by Mrs Justice Rita Abena Doko, that the Western Regional Forestry Division of the Forestry Commission received information that illegal miners had entered the Bonsa Forest Reserve.

He said on November 20 the Rapid Response Team of the Forestry Commission carried out an operation to clamp down on the illegal miners.

He said the team met the six accused persons busily prospecting for gold in the reserve with machines and on seeing the team, attempted to escape by they were arrested.

Chief Inspector Yakubu said Wellington boots, five shovels and four pumping machines belonging to the accused persons were seized.