Accra, Oct. 4, GNA - Three Chinese who were jailed after being busted for transporting and trafficking 10 Chinese girls to engage in the sex trade in Ghana have appealed against their conviction at the Accra Fast Track High Court.

James Xu Jin, 41, who is believed to be the ring leader and night club operator, was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment while San Shan Ying, a housewife and Chou Xiu Ying, a night club operator, had 12 years each.

They were found guilty on charges of conspiracy and human trafficking. Ying was additionally charged with abetment of crime. Appearing before the Fast Track High Court on Monday, Mr Kwabla Senanu, defence counsel, prayed the court for time to enable them to reconcile the two separate appeals filed by the convicts. Mr Senanu explained that the extension of time was to enable him to file statements of case on behalf of the three so that the state would respond.

The Court presided over Mr Justice Charles Quist, therefore, asked the defence to file their statements of case by December 10 while the state files their response by December 22.

It said hearing would, however, commence on January 10, 2011. Last year, a circuit court in Accra presided over by Mrs Elizabeth Ankomah, after finding them guilty, revoked the resident permit for James and ordered that all the money found on the accused persons be paid into the Human Trafficking Fund.

The court, however, ordered that the money retrieved from the victims should be returned to them. The convicts after serving the sentences are to be deported to China.

During the four-month trial the prosecution called 10 witnesses to make its case, while the defence called one witness. Summing up its judgment, the court noted that the prosecution had been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. It held that James and Sam engaged in human trafficking by obtaining tickets and other travelling documents for the victims and through deceit, lured them to Ghana to work in a restaurant, which never existed.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mary Agbozo, the prosecutor, said the Police had information that some Chinese nationals had trafficked a number of Chinese ladies to Ghana for sexual exploitation.

Consequently, a group of Police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department led other police personnel to the house of the three accused persons at La in Accra. The prosecution said when the police went to the house they rescued seven of the victims. The whereabouts of three of them were unknown. A search conducted in the house revealed condoms, contraceptives, a wooden carved male organ, medications and various sums of money, some of which belonged to the victims.

The Police impounded a Toyota saloon car, with registration number GE 9314 W believed to have been used in transporting the victims for the sex trade.

ASP Agbozo said investigations revealed that James and San Shan transported the victims from China while Chou sent the victims to their respective clients. The prosecution said one of the victims, Tin Tin, who could speak English, told them that James and San Shan brought them to Ghana.