CCTV uncovers baby scandal
Print Edition
POLICE are checking children with official registered residence in a county in southeastern China’s Fujian Province amid claims officials and doctors colluded in child trafficking.
The move came after five babies who had been trafficked were found to have legal hukou — household registration — leading to accusations officials were involved.
Baby trafficking is openly conducted in Fujian’s Changting, where it is seen as no big deal, let alone illegal, China Central TV reported yesterday.
“Once, I visited my cousin’s home and saw many strangers there. She told me that her young brother was to be sold, and he really was sold,” a boy told CCTV.
“If my family want to buy a little brother for me, they need 80,000 (US$13,000) to 90,000 yuan,” another boy told reporters.
A woman said that a boy usually costs around 100,000 yuan and a girl 40,000 to 50,000 yuan.
Hearing that eight local families were suspected of trafficking nine babies, CCTV reported its findings to the police.
However, an initial investigation found that they all had legal hukou, local police chief Liao Yingfa said.
They included a number given hukou after home births. In such cases, village committees and police are responsible for checking blood ties, Liao said.
But when the nine babies underwent DNA tests, only four were found to be with their biological parents.
A total of 13 suspects are being held in connection with trafficking five of the babies, CCTV reported. The parents of three of the children have been traced, and admitted selling their children, according to CCTV
“I couldn’t afford to raise my son and just wanted him to have a better life,” said one mother.
Liu Huisheng, of the Changting Public Security Bureau, said claims that village officials and police failed to supervise procedures or even colluded in trafficking are being investigated.
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