5-Months-old Baby Spends Night Behind Bars

A five month-old baby girl spent the night behind bars following allegations against her mother by a neighbour that she had stolen ¢700,000 ($70) worth of cassava and plantain from her backyard farm.

As a result of the complaint, the Ridge Police, in Kumasi at the weekend detained not only the baby's mother, Kate Appiah, but also her father, Kwabena Korankye, as well as her aunt, Stella Bonsu, because, according to the police, the suspects could not provide the surety for bail.

After a night in detention, the baby was taken ill and had to be treated in hospital.

Briefing the Times yesterday, ASP Kwaku Duah, the Kumasi Central Police Divisional Crime Officer, said on May 24, a resident of Ahenema Kokoben, Gifty Boakye, reported that her backyard garden had been raided by Ms Appiah. Consequently, the police invited her to the station twice but she failed to respond.

On Saturday, ASP Due said, the complainant called the investigator and informed him of alleged threats of death from Ms Appiah for reporting the matter to the police. He said the police went to the house and invited Ms Appiah to the police station; however, Korankye and Ms Bonsu who were not initially included tried to obstruct the arrest of Ms Appiah and were therefore arrested.