Woman charged with abducting 2-month old baby

A middle-aged woman was on Wednesday arraigned in court and charged with abducting a 2-month old baby from its parents at the Garissa Referral Hospital.

Asha Mohamed, who denied the charges before a Garissa court, was accused of posing as a nurse at the hospital on August 15, 2016 before taking the baby.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Margaret Wachira, the prosecution requested that the suspect be denied bail or bond until the investigations are completed, noting that the suspect might interfere with their investigations.

The defence on the other hand opposed the request, further asking that the case be heard in two days, but the magistrate declined the request, saying the court’s diary must be followed.

Ms Mohamed was remanded until September 20, 2016 to allow the prosecution to conclude investigations into the case. She will appear for mention of the case on August 30^th.

The magistrate also directed the prosecution to supply the accused with witness statements at the cost of the suspect.

This is the second case of child abduction at the same court, coming barely two weeks after a man, Simon Musyoka, was charged with kidnapping a 7-year boy from their Bula Iftin home. He denied the charges and was remanded until August 31, 2016.