A 24-year-old hairdresser of Lusaka’s Chilenje South has been dragged to court for allegedly stealing a baby.

Mary Sakala of Mapushi Road is charged with the offence of stealing a child contrary to section 171 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence allege that Sakala on April 16, 2019, in Lusaka, stole a child from Memory Kasangili being her mother, who had lawful care or charge of the said child under the age of 16.

According to Kasangili, she woke up around 08:00 hours on April 12 and changed the baby’s clothes when she received a phone call from the accused, Sakala, who was a cousin to her friend, Miriam Shawa.

Sakala had asked her to go to the roadside, saying that she had brought things for the baby.

When Kasangili did not find anyone by the roadside, she informed Sakala that she needed to rush back home because the baby was alone.

However, when she rushed back home, she was surprised to find the baby missing.

When Kasangili enquired from her friend Miriam about the whereabouts of the baby, the latter was also surprised that the baby had gone missing.

And when she called the accused and asked her about the baby’s whereabouts, Sakala was equally amazed and asked if she was sure that the baby was missing.

The matter was allocated to Magistrate Felix Kaoma for plea in the absence of the accused person who is in police custody.

She is expected to take plea soon.