Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 27 October 2005

Source: Erastus Asare Donkor -Kapital Radio[Kumasi]

Man jailed For Trying To Sell Son

A 48-year-old Labourer, Ibrahim Domba, who attempted to sell his 10-year-old son for 150 Million cedis at Tutuka, a suburb of Obuasi, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonement by an Obuasi Circuit Court in the Adansi West District of Ashanti.

He pleaded guilty to a Charge of Child Stealing and the court presided over by Mr. Edward Akwasi Asante convicted him on his own plea.Giving the facts of the case, the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector, M.Y. Agumba told the court that Domba gave a hint of his intention to a friend,called Antwi who alerted the police. Acting on this tip-off, the police feigned interest in the deal and detailed an Officer to act as a prospective client.

Chief inspector Agumba noted that Domba who was unaware of the police intention arranged for a meeting place where he was supposed to enter into a transaction that could lead to the selling of the boy, Abdul Razak, the third of five children of the accused. The prosecutor said during the trans! action, the accused offered the boy for 150Million Cedis and reduced it to 120 Million to which a compromise of 80 Million Cedis was finally reached. The disguised detective then gave Domba 200 thousand Cedis as part payment which he accepted. He was then arrested by the police. During the proceedings Little Abdul Razak, told the court that, his father, the accused, told him on that fateful day that, he was taking him to somebody for money. Domba has sinced been whisked away to begin his sentence and the Court has ordered that the police find the mother of the child to place him in her custody. The accused and the mother of the boy has been divorced for 6 months now.