The National Investigative Bureau has apprehended four individuals, including a retired midwife, who were allegedly involved in the theft and sale of babies in Atuabo and Half Assin in the Western Region (NIB). An Accra Circuit Court, on Tuesday, remanded the four into the custody of the NIB.
Cynthia Beyeden, a 63-year-old retired midwife/nurse, Sylvester Quashie Nyamekeh, a mason, Ediemu Bozoma, a 55-year-old trader, Cynthia Quashie, a private security guard, and one Mr Quashie, who is still at large, are the accused persons.
Cynthia Beyeden is facing two counts of child stealing.
They have all pleaded not guilty and been variously held over abatement and hindrance to inquest.
Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Simon Apiosornu, who held brief, prayed the court to remand the accused persons into custody pending further Investigations.
Chief Inspector Apiosornu, said the Police had received tip-offs, which would lead to the arrest of some more persons and opposed the grant of bail, saying it was premature.
Narrating the facts, Chief Inspector Apiorsornu, said NIB, acting on intelligence, arrested suspects Cynthia Beyejen, Ediemu Bozoma, Cynthia Quarshie and Sytvester Quarsive Nyamekeh in the Western Regon.
The prosecution said Sylvester Quarshie Nyamekeh, was arrested after he tried to offer a seven month baby boy for sale at GH¢80,000.00 at Atuabo to an undercover NIB personnel.
He said the Bureau’s Agent feigned interest in buying the sold victim and arrested him.
The prosecution, said Sylvester did all the negotiation on phone with the Agent and even sent recorded video of late Victim, Nhyira, a 10-day-old baby girl to show that he was into the business of baby selling.
Sylvester mentioned Beyejen, a retired midwife as his source, it said.
According to the prosecution, investigations revealed that Bozoma and Cynthia Quarshie aided Sylvester Quarshie Nyamekeh in what appears to be a baby selling cartel operating in the Western Region’s Atuabo enclave. The prosecution, said investigations revealed that Bozoma and Cynthia Quarshie had been assisting Sylvester Quarshie Nyamekeh in what seems to be a baby selling cartel operating at the Atuabo enclave of the Western Region .
It said Bozoma and Cynthia Quashie had been keeping and taking care of the victims in their houses and later given to Sylvester Quarshie Nyamekeh for ‘disposal’.
According to the prosecutor, it was also established that the late victim Nhyira was in the company of Ediemu Bozoma, Cynthia Quarshie, and an unknown Mr. Quarshie, who claimed the victim died while staying with them at their home.
It said Bozoma, had informed Cynthia Beyejen of the death of Nhyira and Beyejen ordered Bozoma, Cynthia Quarshie and Mr. Quashie, now at large to bury Nhyira without reporting to any authority.
The Court, presided over by Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah, said considering the fact that one of the children had died and the fact that another child was on admission, it could not grant the accused persons bail.
The Court, therefore, remanded them into the custody of the NIB to reappear on November 10.
It further directed the NIB to offer the accused persons access to their lawyers.
