18-year-old woman charged with stealing baby

Breman Asikuma (C/R), March 15, GNA - Ama Sakina, 18, who was apprehended by a search party for allegedly stealing a two-month-old baby boy has been remanded in prison custody by the Breman Asikuma Magistrate Court.

Sakina, whose plea was not taken, will re-appear before the court on March 18, 2005.

According to the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Police Commander, ASP Mahama Fuseini, Sakina is a relative to Abena Baduaa, 23, whose baby was stolen.

Both Sakina and Baduaa hail from Breman Bedum near Breman Asikuma but Sakina is now residing at Mankessim, the court heard. The Police said on March 4, this year, Sakina visited Bedum and lodged with with Baduaa.

The court heard that deep in the night, Sakina woke up and carried away the baby with some of its belongings, which he had packed into a handbag.

ASP Fuseini said the baby's mother could not find her child when she woke up to breastfeed it. She subsequently raised an alarm and search parties were deployed to trace the thief.

One party chased Sakina to Abehenase near Breman Asikuma where she was apprehended with the baby and handed over to the police early in the morning.

Meanwhile, the baby has been given back to the mother.