Rosewood Queen Grabbed

A Chinese national, Helen Huang, suspected of trading in banned rosewood has been re-arrested after jumping bail.

The woman in her 40’s was first arrested in Tamale on May 7, 2019, for transporting four truckloads of rosewood timber, an endangered forestry product.

Detained and later granted an enquiry bail, the suspect subsequently fled the country two days after her arrest.  The man who stood surety for her release, was charged and the police declared her a wanted woman.

After Helen Huang was seen in Tamale on June 15, the police arrested her, ending her 36 days on the run.

At the Tamale Circuit court where she was arraigned, Judge Twumasi Appiah refused to hear the case.

He said the Police Service and Forestry Commission are yet to file a formal complaint against the Chinese woman.

The judge was unhappy at the two security agencies and threatened to release the suspect.

The police have been brought in with the Immigration Service to verify the validity of her stay in Ghana and her business permit.