Mamprobi Baby Theft: Court Remands Suspect as Police Probe Alleged Syndicate

A 33-year-old trader accused of stealing a four-day-old baby from the Mamprobi Polyclinic in Accra has been remanded into custody by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) Court, as prosecutors intensify investigations into what they suspect could be part of a wider criminal syndicate.

The accused, Latifa Salifu, a mother of two, was arraigned before the court presided over by K. K. Obiri Yeboah and charged with one count of child stealing. Her plea was not taken due to ongoing investigations.

Presenting the case, Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei told the court that the prosecution required more time to complete investigations, particularly in light of emerging suspicions that the alleged act may not have been carried out in isolation.

“We want the accused to be remanded to allow us to complete our investigations,” the prosecutor submitted.

Counsel for the accused, Hamisu Muhammad, pleaded for bail, arguing that his client posed no flight risk and had no prior criminal record. He assured the court that Salifu would cooperate fully with investigators and would not interfere with witnesses.

“My client will not interfere with police investigations and witnesses because she does not have the resources to interfere and does not have the resources to abscond,” he argued, adding that sureties were available.

However, the prosecution strongly opposed the bail application, raising concerns about the circumstances of the alleged crime and the possibility of a coordinated operation.

“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,” Chief Inspector Aniagyei told the court.

The presiding judge agreed with the prosecution and ordered that the accused be remanded into custody. She is expected to reappear before the court on March 4, 2026.

According to the prosecution’s account, the incident began on February 14, 2026, when the baby’s mother delivered via caesarean section at the Mamprobi Polyclinic. The newborn was later referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further medical care.

On February 17, while the mother was in the recovery ward, a woman dressed in a peach-coloured scrub uniform allegedly posed as a nurse, approached her bed, and observed both mother and child before leaving.

Later that same day, at about 4 p.m., the suspect reportedly returned under the pretext of administering medication to the baby. She allegedly took the child and disappeared.

A nurse later inquired about the baby, prompting alarm when the mother explained that the supposed nurse had taken the child. A search within the facility proved unsuccessful, leading to a formal complaint at the Mamprobi Police Station.

The following day, February 18, a tip-off led officers from the Dansoman Police to arrest the suspect at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where she was found with the baby.