Emelia Dadson, a trader who was charged for stealing a two-and-a-half-month 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 Abena Oppong Adjin–Doku, and was convicted on her own 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 prosecutor 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 and the two, after becoming friends, exchanged telephone numbers.
Chief Inspector Atimbire 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.
He told the court that two days later, Emelia asked Mary to accompany her to town, she obliged and took her baby along.
Emelia took the complainant to the Kantamanto Market where she bought a handbag, slippers and a piece of cloth.
The prosecutor said Emelia also took the complainant to a saloon for her hair to be braided, and whilst this was on going, Emelia took the baby and asked her younger brother, Shardrack Baah, to accompany her to buy a pair of shoes.
Chief Inspector Atimbire said after braiding her hair, Mary waited for Emelia to bring back her baby so that she could breast-feed her, but she (Emelia) never returned.
Mary then reported the matter to the railway station police and informed her relatives as well.
The prosecutor said on December 20, last year, Selina Abbew Donkor, 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 members teamed up with the [olice at Sowutuom and went and arrested Emelia in her house where she was also keeping the baby.
GNA