The Tema Circuit Tribunal on Friday granted seven Chinese immigrants allegedly working at the Tema Fishing Harbour without resident and work permits, 10 million cedis bail with one surety each.

Jin Hao, Jin Hengr, Yang Aijun, Jin Mingfu, Jin Hong Jiam, Jin Wenye and Lian Zhongdao, pleaded not guilty and are to reappear on May 24.

Mr A. Suah K. Takyi, Legal Officer for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), prosecuting, told the tribunal chaired by Mr Ringo Cass Azumah that on May 10,

2002, the suspects were found at the Tema Fishing Harbour on vessel M/V Azelga Nine and were later discovered to be illegal immigrants.

He said following a tip off, GIS officers at the port apprehended the Chinese and when their passports were checked, it was detected that all had expired.

It was also found out that Hao, Hengri and Aijun disembarked in Ghana on March 5, 1999 on visitor's permit.

Mr Takyi said when they were interrogated, they claimed to have come from high seas and disembarked at Axim and travelled through Accra to Tema.

Mr Mankata Nyampong, counsel for the suspects said they were crew members of Infitco International, whose vessel had a problem at high seas.

He said they had to be saved by some canoe fishermen who brought them to Axim, in the Western Region.

Mr Nyampong said the Chinese were seamen who did not need work permit, but the prosecutor said they came into the country as visitors.