Trader jailed for stealing baby

Accra, Jan. 30, - Emelia Dadson, a trader who was charged for stealing a two and half months old baby girl at Kantamanto Market in Accra has been sentenced to 36 months imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Emelia, 31, pleaded guilty before the court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin–Doku and was convicted her on her plea.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire told the court that the complainant Mary Asiedu, 19, who is the mother of the child, is a student residing at Abease, near Amasaman in Accra with her mother Abena Dorcas.

The Prosecution said Emelia resides at Sowutuom and on December 12, last year, Mary took her baby to the Amasaman Government Hospital for weighing and met Emelia where the two became acquainted and exchanged telephone numbers.

The Prosecution said on December 13 same year, Emelia visited Mary and her mother in her house and presented assorted baby clothes and a mobile phone to Mary.

The prosecution said two days later Emelia asked Mary to accompany her to town, she obliged and took her baby along.

The Prosecution said Emelia took the complainant to Kantamanto market where she bought a handbag, slippers and a piece of cloth.

The Prosecution said Emelia also took the complainant to a saloon for hair to be braided whilst this was on going, Emelia took the baby and asked her younger brother who was around and known as Shardrack Baah to accompany her to buy a pair of shoes.

The Prosecution said Mary after braiding her hair waited for the complainant to bring back her baby so that she could breast-feed her but the convict never returned.

Mary then reported the matter to the Police at the Railway Station and informed her relations as well.

The Prosecution said on December 20, last year, one Selina Abbew Donkor the elder sister of Mary heard that a lady was keeping a child at Sowutuom which did not belong to her.

The complainant and her sister as well as some family relations teamed up with the Police at Sowutuom went and arrested Emelia in her house where she was also keeping the baby.

GNA