A 33-year-old trader who allegedly stole a four-day-old baby at the Mamprobi Polyclinic in Accra has been remanded by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit Court in Accra.
Latifa Salifu, a mother of two, has been charged with one count of child stealing before the court presided over by K. K. Obiri Yeboah.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge when she made her first appearance at the specialised court.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, told the court that investigations were still ongoing and prayed for the accused to be remanded in custody.
“We want the accused to be remanded to allow us to complete our investigations,” he said.
However, counsel for the accused, Hamisu Muhammad, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail, arguing that Salifu was not a flight risk and had never had a brush with the law.
“My client will not interfere with police investigations and witnesses because she does not have resources to interfere and does not have the resources to abscond,” counsel submitted.
He added that his client had men who were ready to stand in as sureties.
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The prosecution opposed the bail application, indicating that police suspected the alleged theft may have been orchestrated by a syndicate.
“There is no sense that the accused who has children who are boys will still go to the hospital to steal a boy
“We want the accused remanded to help with investigations,” the prosecutor said.
The judge sided with the prosecution and remanded the accused to reappear on March 4, 2026.
Prosecution’s case
Narrating the facts, Chief Inspector Aniagyei said that on February 14 this year, the mother of the four-day-old baby delivered at the hospital through a caesarean section.
He said the baby was subsequently referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
On February 17, 2026, while the mother was at the recovery ward, the prosecutor said a woman dressed in a peach-coloured scrub uniform posed as a nurse, came to her bed, looked at the baby and the mother, and left.
Later that day, at about 4 p.m., the accused allegedly returned to the mother under the pretext of administering medicine to the baby.
About 10 minutes later, Chief Inspector Aniagyei said a nurse approached the mother to ask about the baby, but she informed the nurse that the accused had taken the child and described her appearance.
He said nurses on duty searched the hospital premises but could not find the accused.
The complainant subsequently lodged a report with the Mamprobi Police.
On February 18, 2026, a whistleblower informed the Dansoman Police that the accused had been seen with the baby at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
“With the help of the Dansoman Police patrol team, accused was arrested and brought to the Police station together with the baby.
“Accused in her Police further investigation cautioned statement admitted the offence and stated that, she went to pick up the baby from the victim under the pretext of administering medicine for her and bolted with the baby,” the prosecutor told the court.
