Woman arraigned for stealing passports

Takoradi, Jan. 16, GNA- Rose Butler, a trader was on Thursday arraigned at Takoradi for allegedly stealing two Ghanaian passports belonging her daughter-in-law and her grandchild. Butler, who pleaded not guilty to stealing and deceit of public officer, was granted 30 million cedis bail with one surety. She will reappear on January 30.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Patience Nicol, told the court, that the complainant, Mrs Lawrenda De-Love Paakow, who is married to the son of the accused lived in London with her husband. She said on January 1, 2003, Mrs Paakow and her husband visited Ghana.

Chief Inspector Nicol said in March 2003, the complainant's husband left Ghana for London with a promise to come back for her few months later.

She said before his departure from Ghana, Mr Paakow told his wife that he had left her passport and that of her daughter, Gabriella, with his mother for safekeeping.

Chief Inspector Nicol said in April 2003, the accused sent a delegation to the family of Mrs Paakow with an amount of two million cedis, to go and dissolve the marriage between Mrs Paakow and her son, without any reason.

The court heard that Mrs Paakow's family demanded the return of the two passports before the marriage could be divorced, but the accused refused to return the passports so the marriage could not be dissolved. Chief Inspector Nicol said on May 12, 2003, the accused wrote a false letter to the Western Regional Police commander with copies to the Immigration Office and the Daily Graphic that the two passports were missing.

The prosecutor said after several demands for the return of the passports had failed, Mrs Paakow lodged a complaint with the Police, leading to the arrest of the accused.