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‘Kidnapped’ pregnant woman saga:Police arrest three suspects

The Police have arrested three people in connection with the alleged kidnap of Josephine Panyin Mensah, 28-year-old resident of Takoradi in the Western Region last week.

According to the police, the woman, who was reported pregnant at the time of her capture may have masterminded her alleged kidnap.

A police statement said medical records released by authorities of the Axim Government Hospital where she was examined after her ‘rescue’ revealed that Josephine was never pregnant within the period under review.

The Acting Director-General of Police Public Affairs Directorate, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kwesi Ofori, in a statement said the victim, now a suspect, during interrogation mentioned the European Hospital in Takoradi as the hospital for her antenatal reviews and assessment.

“Medical records at the facility suggest that the lady visited the hospital without pregnancy somewhere in October last year.  Investigations also suggest the suspect may have conspired with other persons over her possible planned disappearance.

“Three people have so far been arrested for further questioning on possible conspiracy charges,” the police said.

Assuring the general public that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of Josephine Panyin Mensah as it continued its investigations, the police expressed worry at fake kidnapping cases in the region where people conspired to create ‘self-kidnapping’ incidents to make money out of ransoms.

“A team with support from the National Headquarters has been put together to quell the emerging crime in the Western Region,” the statement said.

“We wish to give the assurance that we will continue to revise our security strategies to protect the people of the Western Region and the rest of the country, he added.

ACP Ofori said since Josephine’s disappearance on Thursday, September 16, over 40 police officers were assigned to track her whereabouts and the family were given updates on police operation regarding the issue.

On September 21, 2021, at about 9:30 am, when she reappeared, Josephine was immediately sent to the Axim Government Hospital for medical attention.

 Meanwhile, the 28-year-old woman, has been referred from the Axim Government Hospital to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH), for further treatment.

Sources closed to the hospital hinted that Josephine was admitted at ENRH at about 5pm on Wednesday, for critical care.

Indications are that Josephine who was earlier, according to reports, traumatised and could not speak, has now began talking during interrogation by the police and the family members.

“Yes she is on admission and in our care at Effia Nkwanta and responding to treatment.” a hospital source confirmed to the Ghanaian Times.

The source said Josephine had told doctors that her abductors removed the baby.

But, the controversy seems not to be abating as senior brother of Josephine, Alex Essien, insisted that, despite police reports, he believed that his sister was indeed pregnant and had been attending antenatal clinics at the European Hospital and was due for delivery.

In another twist, sources at the said hospital revealed that, though, Josephine attended the outpatient Department  (OPD) sometime in September 2020, it was not at the antenatal clinic as a client.

FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, EFFIA NKWANTA

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