Three illegal miners, who attacked a small scale miner and his workers near Agona Amenfi, have been sentenced to a total of 20 years imprisonment in hard labour by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

The convicts, Maxwell Kawini, 22, Kwame Richard, 22, and Prosper Ayambila, 21, were said to have made away with a black gold concentrate worth GH¢ 25,000.00 when they attacked the victims.

They pleaded guilty on the charges of conspiracy and robbery and were sentenced on their own plea.

Police Chief Inspector Florence Tawiah told the Court presided over by Mr Justice Alex Obeng Asante that the complainant, Kwame Amponsah, is a small scale miner who owns a mining site at Gyedua-Kese near Agona Amenfi.

Chief Inspector Tawiah said on July 13, at about 1200 hours the convicts connived to rob the complainant of his black gold concentrate.

The Prosecutor said on that same day around 1700 hours, the complainant and his workers were prospecting for gold on their concession when the convicts invaded their mining site with a gun, cutlass and scissors and ordered them to surrender their gold concentrate.

After the operation, Chief Inspector Tawiah said the convicts escaped and hid the black gold concentrate in a bush and left for their homes.

The following day, Maxwell was arrested at his hide out at Gyedua-Kese while Kwame and Prosper were also arrested at Kotwi in the Ashanti Region upon a tip off.