Three illegal Miners have been sentenced to four years each in prison for illegally mining gold in the Atiwa Forest Reserve.

In what could be described as one of severest punishments handed to illegal miners, the convicts are to also pay a fine of GHC36, 000 each.

Appearing before the Koforidua Circuit Court 'B', the convicts, Kofi Abraham, 21, Yaw Afrifa, 28, and Bismark Gyamfi, 21, all pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime, illegal mining and Mining without license.

The Prosecutor, Kwasi Opare Wiredu told the Court Presided over by Her Honour Mercy Adei Kotei that, the complainant is a Forestry Services official in charge of the Atiwa Range Forest Reserve.

He said the convicts were arrested on February 26, 2018 by the Forest guards of the Forestry services led by Anyinam Range Manager, Palmer Aikens at the Anyem Bormaa portion of the Atiwa Forest Reserve while mining in the deep forest reserve together with one other who escaped arrest.

The arresting officers retrieved a pumping machine, pick axe, four metal buckets, a washing carpet, shovel and head pan.

The three convicts before their sentence pleaded to the court to forgive them because they engaged in the act to get money to feed themselves.