Woman charged with child stealing discharged

Sarah Amarley Laryea, an unemployed, who was accused of stealing a nine-year old girl at Dansoman, has been discharged by an Accra Circuit Court.

Sarah was discharged by the court presided, over by Ms Sedina Agbemava, after it ruled that no case had been made against her after listening to the evidence of the witnesses.

According to the court, all the witnesses stated that the victim was roaming in the area so Sarah took care of her but none said she stole the child.

Consequently, the Court said it was irrelevant to call Sarah to open her defence.

It, however, cautioned her to be of good behavior.

Sarah had pleaded not guilty to child stealing and she was admitted to bail.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sarah Acquah, said the complainant Ama Antwiwaa, was the mother of the victim, who was a trader at Akyem Ayirebi.

The accused person, prosecution said, resided at Teshie Nungua with her parents. On December 12, 2012, the victim who lived with her grandmother was sent to buy charcoal at Dansoman Atomic.

Prosecutor said the victim, however, never returned so a complaint was made to the Police.

Nine months later, the prosecution said, a witness in the matter saw the victim with another child selling assorted soap at Adabraka so they were both escorted to the Dansoman Police Station.

ASP Acquah said the victim said when she was asked to go and buy charcoal; she met Sarah who told her she was taking her to her mother.

According to the victim, when she found that she had been deceived, she could not find her way, said the prosecution.