Mankranso (Ash), Dec 26, GNA - A 32-year-old trader who said she had been barren for the past 15 years, was on Tuesday remanded in prison custody by the Mankranso Magistrate court for stealing a one year-old child at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in Kumasi. The plea of Mary Benson alias Akuba was not taken and would re-appear on January 6.

Police Chief Inspector Chris Osei Adwedee told the court that at about 1900 hours on December 19, this year, the accused boarded a vehicle at KATH for Bibiani, in the Western Region.

He said on the way, a child started crying, which made the driver and some of the passengers suspicious.

Chief Inspector Adwedee said on reaching Abuakwa, the driver stopped and handed the accused over to the Police.

He said during interrogation, the accused confessed stealing the child from KATH because she had been barren for 15 years after marriage and had become fed up with constant taunts and insults. The prosecution said the accused told the Police that she was sending the child to her mother at Bibiani.

The child had been handed over to the Department of Social Welfare in Kumasi while further investigations are being done.