Police in Takoradi in the Western Region have arrested three persons for further questioning on possible conspiracy charges in connection with the alleged kidnapping case of a pregnant woman. 

In a statement on Thursday (23 September), the police say Josephine Simons is now a suspect in the case.

“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,” the statement said.

“Never pregnant”

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (22 September), Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister said a preliminary investigation by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has revealed that the kidnapping of the pregnant woman was fake.

“… The information that he [the doctor] gave to our police was that the girl doesn’t seem to be someone who was pregnant in the first place and all the signs and symptoms don’t show someone who has given birth in the last six days. I have directed the police to do further investigations on the girl’s mother, the girl herself and the husband. So that’s currently what we are doing.” 

Michael Simons denied claims that his wife, Josephine Simons, was not pregnant when she was allegedly kidnapped last Thursday (16 September) in Takoradi.

Speaking with Asaase News on Wednesday (22 September), the husband of the suspect insisted she was pregnant before she went missing.

“I’m a bit confused about what the Regional Minister is saying because we those living with the lady know that she was pregnant. Even yesterday I overheard the doctor telling someone that this is a miracle…so if there is even a report that suggests that she is not pregnant, I think it was not fair for him to have spoken on the radio at this stage…”

However, the police have confirmed the earlier assertion by Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister.

“The police is heavily relying on medical experts who have examined her. Their finding is that Josephine Panyin Mensah was never pregnant within the period under review following thorough medical examination by the medical doctors at the Axim Government hospital,” the statement said.

Read the full statement below: