The Hindu : Front Page : Swiss diplomat in battle for a baby

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Friday, Aug 08, 2008
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Swiss diplomat in battle for a baby

NAIROBI: The Kenyan police launched a criminal investigation on Thursday against a Swiss diplomat and his Ugandan beauty queen wife over accusations by a young mother that the couple kidnapped her infant son.

The couple deny the allegations, saying Maureen Nanyazi Mawejje, who is 25, signed away her guardianship rights. The mother’s supporters say the case fits into a troubling trend of rich Westerners stealing babies from poor mothers who lack the resources or the expertise to fight back.

“If this is happening in Kenya, where at least we have rules and regulations, imagine what the rest of Africa is like,” said Tom Chavangi, executive director of UNICEF-funded Children Legal Action Network, which is providing the mother with legal aid.

The woman claims the couple invited her and her son to live with them, was tricked into leaving the country, then found herself locked out of the house when she returned.

Mr. Chavangi says his organisation has seen around 70 similar cases in Kenya of wealthy families allegedly seizing children from poor families since it started work 10 years ago — and suspects that is only a tiny fraction of cases since most go unreported.

Acting on a CLAN complaint, Nairobi police processed charges of kidnapping, child trafficking and perjury against Swiss citizen Renaud Gerber and his Ugandan wife Grace Mungoma, formerly Miss Uganda. — AP

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