Alleged baby thief discharged

Accra, July 25, GNA - It was all joy for a 27-year-old self-styled nurse, Jacinta Oduro Kwarteng, who was accused of stealing a two-week-old baby girl from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital when a Circuit Court in Accra discharged her.

The discharge came after the complainant in the case told the court that she wanted to withdraw the matter because she was no more interested. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah, the prosecutor, said she had nothing to say if the complainant had opted for that. Jacinta, who was standing trial for child stealing, pleaded not guilty= .. She was accused of stealing the baby from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital an= d sending her to the Central Region. Before the commencement of the trial the court referred her to the Psychiatric Hospital for examination.

Jacinta through her counsel had contended that she was ill and was not medically sound to answer the charge levelled against her. The prosecutor, however told the court that Jacinta was 93100 per cen= t sound" to stand trial.

After a medical examination, it came to light that Jacinta was fit to stand trial. Prosecution had called two witnesses.

ASP Acquah told the court that Jacinta resides at Dansoman, Accra. On January 17, the complainant gave birth to a baby girl at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and she was discharged two days later and asked to report on January 31 for review. The prosecutor said on January 31, the complainant and her auntie took the baby to the hospital but the medical doctor was not available so she wa= s asked to report the following day.

When the complainant was leaving, she met the accused dressed in white attire seated at the Maternity Out-Patient Department (OPD). The prosecutor said the complainant approached Jacinta and asked if he= r baby could be weighed since her doctor was unavailable.

Jacinta then offered to assist the complainant and asked the complainant to leave her baby with the auntie to enable her to take her (th= e complainant) upstairs to see another doctor. The prosecutor said on the way to see the doctor, Jacinta asked the complainant to wait for her while she collected laboratory results from the Central Laboratory. ASP Acquah said Jacinta went to the complainant's auntie, who was th= en holding the baby and told her that the medical doctor wanted to see the baby. The complainant's auntie therefore gave the baby to Jacinta. The complainant, the prosecutor said, realising that Jacinta had kept long in returning went back to see her auntie and the baby but to her surprise she was told that Jacinta had come for the child. The complainant and her auntie searched the various departments of the hospital but to no avail. They therefore lodged a complaint with the Korle-Bu Police.

The prosecutor said Jacinta was arrested at her hideout at Dansoman "Last Stop" and she mentioned one Ataa as the person who bought the bab= y for GH¢300.

ASP Acquah said Ataa realising that she was being sought by the Police sent the baby to Assin Fosu Government Hospital in the Central Region where she abandoned her (the baby) and went into hiding. The case was transferred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit in the Greater Region.