This is the latest development in a long-running standoff between the Canadian firm and the Mali government over taxes and ownership of mining operations in the country. 

The appeal by the company, which has dismissed the allegations against the four local employees as baseless, was determined by the judge to be "unfounded", said Alifa Habib Kone, a Lawyer for Barrick. 

The employees face charges including money laundering and violation of other regulations, Kone said. 

Barrick has said it refutes the charges against its employees. 

Barrick and Mali's military run government have been in negotiations since 2023 over the implementation of a new mining code that raises taxes and gives the government a greater share in the country's gold mines. 

Barrick owns 80% of the Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex in Mali and the government owns the rest. Operations have been suspended since mid-January after the government blocked Barrick's gold exports and seized three metric tons of its stocks. 

Malian authorities arrested the four employees in late November and they have been in pre-trial detention in Bamako, according to Barrick's website. 

Mali also issued an arrest warrant in December 2024, for Barrick Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow who is based in Toronto. He is accused of money laundering and violating financial regulations, according to the warrant document. 

--Reuters--