20-05-2011
A 37 year old tomato trader alleged to have been involved in the stealing of babies has been busted by the Bolgatanga Police upon a tip off by an informant. The accused, Martha Abangre who is presently in police custody, is said to have stolen three children of which the latest is a 3 month old baby girl brought from Kumasi. She would be arraigned before court and prosecuted if found guilty of all charges leveled against her. Narrating the incident to Radio Ghana, the Regional Police Commander, ACP Bright Oduro said the accused was picked from her hide out based on reliable information that she had in her custody a month old baby girl, which according to sources was not her biological child. In addition, a 9 year old girl who is alleged to have been with the accused all her life was also discovered, though casual observation by competent gynecologist had proven beyond all reasonable doubt that she was barren. Report reaching the police also indicated that another baby she stole three years ago died in her custody six months after staying with her. According to ACP Bright Oduro the accused when interrogated denied all allegations levelled against her claiming that she delivered the 1 month old baby during her recent stay in neighbouring Burkina Faso, whilst the 9 year old girl was given to her by a friend who currently resides in the United States, on grounds that the friend did not want her white lover to find out about the baby. To her, she has no evil intention about the girl as she has stayed with her since infancy. Upon intensive interrogation Abangre confessed that she bought the little child at 350 Ghana Cedis from a friend in Kumasi after complaining to her, her inability to bring forth a child, adding that her actions were as a result of social pressure of her incapability of having a baby. Disclosing her side of the story to the press, the accused indicated that she was declared medically unfit to give birth after loosing her pregnancy at the age of 18. Her womb, she stated, was removed as a result of the lost pregnancy. She then became a victim of stigmatization and intimidation from friends and relatives, thus subjecting her to public ridicule. Due to her problem, her former husband, Mr. Asakia Adongo, accused her wrongly and divorced her at the time she needed care and attention. The situation, she further said compelled her to sought alternative means of having a baby all by herself. According to her she has no ritual intention behind her actions and pleaded for fair judgment when arraigned before court. ACP Oduro in his last remark said the accused though had admitted finally to the charges levelled against her, shall still face severe punishment to serve as deterrent o others as the region is still grappling with the problem of child migration and trafficking among other abuses on children. The police, he emphasized would continue to expose such criminal activities from the society and therefore urged the public to assist in that regard. He reiterated that all information leading to the arrest of such criminals will be greatly appreciated with reward packages.
GBC END IA/
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