‘Baby snatch’ parents face charges

Sharjah, August 31: The parents at the centre of the seven-hour Sharjah baby snatch drama have been charged with neglect. Sharjah Police confirmed the move on Thursday after registering a case against the parents of Lailas Ehssan.

The child was taken earlier this month when her parents’ car was stolen from a petrol station in Industrial Area 6 in Sharjah.

They left her in the back seat of their white Toyota Prado, with the engine still running in the unlocked car, as they went inside the station.

Within minutes a thief got behind the wheel and sped off, taking Syrian Mohammad Ehssan’s baby daughter with the car.

By 1am, Sharjah Police posted pleas on their Twitter and Facebook pages, asking for help to find the child, releasing the make, model and registration of the car.

The child was only returned after heroic Ebrahim Ahmad Al Shamsi responded to the online police appeals and went searching for the baby in his car.

He bravely tracked her down and alerted police who reunited the child with her parents.

Sharjah Police have since rewarded Emirati Al Shamsi for his courageous efforts.

Now they have taken action against the child’s parents.

Speaking to Gulf News, Mohammad Ehssan, father of one month old Lailas, described the moment his child went missing.

The 34-year-old said: “I did not think for a while that Lilas will be snatched with the car.

“I have two daughters Limar aged three-and-a-half and Lailas.”

Ehssan, from Al Ain but visiting relatives in Sharjah for Eid, said he went with his wife Ruba to buy a gas stove from the industrial area 6 in Sharjah.

“Limar went with her mother to the toilet”

“By the time we were done, we went outside to find the car snatched with our baby inside.

“We spent those seven hours praying and asking God to return our daughter safely.

“Her mother was crying and weeping all the time.

“When police found Lailas and took her to hospital, we ran to see her.

“I took my little girl in between my arms and lay on the ground crying, her mother too.

“Never we will do this matter again or leave one of our daughters alone in the car or even leave the car in a running condition.

“Thanks to Sharjah Police and Al Shamsi who jumped to the scene and responded to Sharjah police’s plea to find my little girl,” Ehssan said.

“During the coming days I will meet Al Shamsi to thank him again,” he added.

The couple have been referred to public prosecution and to the court.

A date will be set for a judge to hear a ruling against them.