The thirteen men accused of trafficking children for exploitation on Tuesday appeared without legal representation at the Accra Circuit Court 6 presided over by Judge Patience Tetteh-Mills. The case was transferred to the Accra Circuit court 6 on the 17th August because Judge Georgina Mensah –Datsa of Court 5 who initially presided over the case is on leave. The thirteen accused persons have been kept in police custody since their arrest. The 13 accused persons, Samuel Yenyan Korye, Eric Siaw, Super Dzisenu, Ku George Moses, Felix Nartey, Robert Nartey, John Nartey, Akakpo Dameh, Emmanuel Nartey, George Ayiku Nartey, Alex Koffie, Tei Dawa and Enock Tetteh Bordozor have been charged on two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and human trafficking. The first, second and fifth accused persons who are drivers have also been charged for carrying persons in a vehicle in excess of the prescribed number. According to the brief facts of the case, on the 1st of August 2010, three commercial buses with registration numbers GT6121-10, GR3096C and WR2175C enroute to Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region were intercepted by the police at the outskirts of Prampram. The officers conducted an investigation on the spot and discovered that, 338 children between the ages of 4 to 19 years recruited from Ada, Ningo, Sege, Kpongnuour and its surrounding villages were being transported by the accused persons to Yeji to work. The Prosecutor ASP Annor told the court that a team of investigators and personnel from the Anti-human Trafficking was dispatched to Yeji to ascertain if the parents of the victims were based there as declared in the police statements of the accused persons. But the statements of the accused were found to be false and they were subsequently arraigned before court. Story: Maame Afua Enos/Asempa News