Woman remanded for attempting to sell three children

Drobo (B/A), Nov. 14, GNA - Florence Abenaa Serwaa, 25, unemployed, was on Tuesday remanded by a magistrate's court at Drobo in the Jaman South district of Brong Ahafo for attempting to sell her three children. With Florence in the dock was Jonathan Kwame Yeboah, 27, a fitter mechanic she had allegedly contracted to help her to sell the children for a fee of 10 million cedis.

They each face charges of conspiracy to commit crime, stealing and fraud by false pretences and would be brought before the court again on November 17.

Police Chief Inspector Stephen O Asamoah told the court presided by Mr Samuel Kofi Solomon that on October 28 this year, Serwaa approached Yeboah at Japekrom, near Drobo and contracted him to help her sell her three children for a reward of 10 million cedis.

He said Yeboah expressed interest and informed a colleague Mr Stephen Amponsah, who quickly gave the police a tip-off. The police deployed a police officer, Corporal Augustine Kumasah, to pose as an "Alhaji" from Techiman willing to buy the children for rituals.

The two suspects, Mr Amponsah and Cpl Kumasah who was dressed as an "Alhaji" then met and they agreed on 70 million cedis as the price for the three children.

Chief Inspector Asamoah said the two suspects were given 500,000 cedis and a cheque for 15 million cedis to be drawn at the Kaaseman Rural Bank.

He said Serwaa promised to bring the children from Baanafo Prayer Camp where she said the children were receiving prayers but Corporal Kumasah (Alhaji) offered to send them to the Camp in his car to collect the children.

On arrival at the camp, Serwaa told the "Alhaji" the children were in church so promised to bring them to him later in another vehicle since people might suspect if they rode in the "Alhaji's" posh car.

At a point when Serwah and her accomplice suspected that the =93Alhaji=94 was closing up on them to arrest them the two suspects hurriedly boarded a 207 Mercedes Benz bus in an attempt to flee, but Corporal Kumasah ("Alhaji") called for police reinforcement to intercept the vehicle at the outskirts of Drobo and they were arrested. Chief Inspector Asamoah said a search on them revealed the cheque for 15 million cedis.

During investigations Yeboah admitted collecting 500,000 cedis, but said he had given 300,000 cedis to his wife who denied receiving any money when police traced her at Atuna, Chief Inspector Amponsah added.