Police arrest 18-month-old girl

Residents of Mafi Adidome Traditional Area in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region were thrown into state of shock and disbelief last week Friday following the arrest and detention of a one-and-a-half-year-old, Princess Gokay.

Princess has been accused of attempting to give poisonous substance to her uncle’s son, Kwabla Gokay (5 years) who is sick and bed-ridden.

And she is scheduled to appear before the Mafi Adodime Magistrate Court today, Tuesday, May 22, 2018 to answer the charge of attempted murder, Today learnt.

Last week Friday’s incident left many residents dumbfounded for which they jabbed the Mafi Adodime Police Command for doing the unimaginable.

Speaking in an interview with Today on Sunday, mother of the little girl, Madam Esinam Yevuyibor, revealed that police officers from Mafi Adodime District Police Command came to her house on Friday, May 18, 2018 and arrested Princess Gokay.

Madam Yevuyibor explained that the police told her the arrest of little Princess was as a result of a complaint lodged against the suspect, Princess Gokay, by Mrs Akpene Gokay of an attempt by the 18-month child to allegedly poison her five-year-old son, Kwabla Gokay.

“We were shocked at the forced charge preferred against the little girl by the police officers because Princess who cannot talk or knows her left from right could do such thing to her sick brother,” she told Today amidst tears.

According to her, since the five-year-old Kwabla Gokay became sick and bed-ridden, little Princess has been paying regular visit to him in his room and often plays with him and wondered how she could take a bottle containing a poisonous substance to kill Kwabla.

Giving detail accounts of the issue, she said in April this year, she saw a sister of Kwabla Gokay, Jenifer Gokay, beat up little Princess Gokay and dragged her from the room where Kwabla lives.

“So when I asked Jenifer Gokay what Princess did, she insulted me but escaped when I threatened to beat her up. When her mother returned from the farm, I didn’t know what she told her who quickly rushed to the police and made a report,” she said.

According to Madam Esinam Yevuyibor, it was a surprise to her and neighbours when on Friday the police came and arrested little Princess.

Against this background, Madam Yevuyibor called on the Volta Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nana Asomah Hinneh, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr David Asante-Appeatu, to intervene in the matter.

Meanwhile, when Today reached the Adidome District Police Commander, Mr. Phanthomas Opat, via phone yesterday, he explained: “even a child of twelve years below commits no criminal offence, so I am kind of confused here. I am not aware of such a case.”

He, however, gave the assurance that he will get to the bottom of the matter.