Baby thief jailed ten years

Asamankese, April 27, GNA - A 42-year-old trader, Doris Asaga, was on Wednesday sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour by the Asamankese Circuit Court for stealing a three-week-old baby boy. Doris, who claimed to be a mother of six children, pleaded guilty and was convicted on her own plea.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Joseph Idan, told the court, presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah, in September last year, Doris visited her brother at Konakohwe, a village in the West Akyem District and stayed for some days.

He said during the period, Mad. Mavis Arye, 36, the complainant, was pregnant in the village.

According to the prosecution, Doris paid a second visit by which time Mavis had delivered a baby boy.

Inspector Idan said on October 30, at about 1900 hours, Mavis left her three-week old baby under the care of her four-year-old son while she went out to fetch water from a nearby house.

The court heard that while Mavis was on her way out, the little boy called and informed her that an unknown woman had entered the room and had taken the baby away after putting out the lantern. C/Ins. Idan said Mavis rushed back to the room but could not find the baby.

According to the Prosecutor, the inhabitants of the village were immediately informed and a search was organized, but the baby could not be found.

He said a report was made to the police at Asamankese but all efforts to locate the baby failed until on April 4, this year, when one Kobla Adzrawasa of Agbagorme in the Volta Region and an uncle of Doris, became suspicious on seeing her with a baby since he never knew her to be pregnant and let alone, given birth.

Mr Adzrawasa, therefore, reported Doris to the police, who in turn, handed her over to the Asamankese police.

The prosecutor said Doris confessed to the crime in her caution statement.