Obuasi, April 15, GNA- A circuit court at Obuasi in Ashanti, sentenced eight men to five years in hard labour each for illegally mining 11 sacks of gold quart from a shaft of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi.

They were Sule Abu, 20, unemployed, Abdulai Abu alias Dramani, 39, farmer, Abdul Omen Abdul Karim, 25, unemployed and Cosmos Sulemana, 27, farmer. The rest were Naa Prosper, 24, farmer, Hambalee Abdulai, 30, farmer, Alhassan Nasiru, 24, farmer and Mohammed Ali, 26, an electrician. They pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry, stealing of gold quartz and unlawful possession of explosives.

Mr Justice Edward Amoako Asante, a high court judge, sitting as additional circuit court Judge, who presided over the court, said the sentence was to serve as a deterrent to other miners, operating illegally within the company's concession. Police Chief Inspector M. Y. Agumah, told the court that on April 11 this year, the accused unlawfully entered the George Capendell shaft and prospected for 11 sacks of gold quartz. He said upon a tip off, security personnel of the company arrested the accused in procession of the gold quartz, chisel, hammer and some explosives.