Court grants woman 20 million cedis bail for concealment

Ejisu (Ash), Nov.16, GNA - The Ejisu magistrate court on Tuesday granted a 38-year old mother of four a 20-million cedi bail with one surety to justify for concealing and abandoning a day-old baby after birth.

Akosua Ateney alias Mercy Sarpong, who pleaded guilty to the charge asked the court to temper justice with mercy since she did not know what made her to act the way she behaved. She will re-appear on November 17. 2004.

Police Chief Inspector Simon Peter Akabati told the court that the accused, who lives in the family house at Bonwire near Ejisu was seen by members of the household to be pregnant.

He said on 18th October 18 this year, however, the pregnancy disappeared but surprisingly, the family members did not see her holding a baby.

Chief Inspector Akabati said at about 1500 hours that same day, some students who were passing by the Aboabo stream, heard a baby crying in a polythene bag and so they became afraid.

They therefore, went and informed one Wofa Yaw who followed them to the scene where he picked the polythene bag containing a baby boy and carried it to the queenmother of Bonwire.

He said the queenmother sent the baby to the police station and was later sent to the Juaben hospital and then to the Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

Chief Inspector Akabati said after investigations, the accused was confronted as to the whereabouts of her baby but she told them that she was not pregnant.

He said the accused was therefore, asked to be taken to the Juaben hospital for medical examination but, while on the way to Juaben, she confessed and was taken to the police station. The baby is still at KATH.