A mother has been jailed for 10 years for kidnapping a baby and raising it as her own for nearly two decades.
The conviction occurred in South Africa where 19 years ago baby Zephany Nurse was taken from a maternity ward at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town by a kidnapper, ABC News reports.
In a remarkable coincidence, Zephany attended the same school as her younger biological sister. Her real identity was only unveiled after fellow students pointed to their similarity in looks and the younger daughter told her parents about their likeness.
DNA tests confirmed her identity, leading to the arrest of the woman who had claimed for nearly two decades to be her mother.
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority, said prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence for the kidnapper.
“She gets 10 years’ direct imprisonment. We are happy with that,” said Ntabazalila.
“You cannot go out and steal a child and expect that the society will accept that, or the courts will accept that, or the general public will accept that. It’s wrong, it’s a crime.”
During the trial Zephany’s biological mother wept while describing waking up in the maternity ward to find her baby girl gone.
