French family detained in baby smuggling case
Source: Agencies |
March 25, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
UKRAINIAN authorities said yesterday they have detained a French family who tried to smuggle two two-month-old infants across the border hidden under a mattress in their van.
Border guards discovered the twin girls in a chest under a mattress when they inspected the vehicle on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border on Monday, alarmed by the suspicious behavior of a 38-year-old French medic and his father.
The medic said the girls, identified as Vicky and Kim, were born to a surrogate mother in Kiev and that the younger man was their father, according to Ukraine's Border Guard spokesman Eduard Steblyuk. Steblyuk said the man said he wanted to sneak the children into Europe clandestinely in order to register them as French citizens, bypassing a local law that does not recognize surrogacy.
Authorities have launched a criminal probe into illegal transportation of minors abroad. The two men, whose names have not been released, could face from three to seven years in prison if convicted, Steblyuk said.
The younger man's wife, also a French citizen, who was staying at a hotel in a nearby town, is also being questioned, Steblyuk said. The babies have been sent to a local hospital. Mahdalyna Vizaver, deputy chief doctor at the Berehivska district hospital that has been taking care of the babies, said in televised remarks. "They have been well cared for."
A French diplomat said the embassy is aware of the situation and is offering assistance to the couple, who are effectively under house arrest. France is awaiting the next judicial step and has informed the couple's families, said the diplomat, who was not authorized to be publicly named according to government policy.
Steblyuk said border guards searched the van because the French men kept turning around to see what was happening inside the vehicle where loud music was playing, and they appeared nervous. "We noticed that they were looking at the interior, they looked like they were worried about something," said Steblyuk.
Border guards discovered the twin girls in a chest under a mattress when they inspected the vehicle on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border on Monday, alarmed by the suspicious behavior of a 38-year-old French medic and his father.
The medic said the girls, identified as Vicky and Kim, were born to a surrogate mother in Kiev and that the younger man was their father, according to Ukraine's Border Guard spokesman Eduard Steblyuk. Steblyuk said the man said he wanted to sneak the children into Europe clandestinely in order to register them as French citizens, bypassing a local law that does not recognize surrogacy.
Authorities have launched a criminal probe into illegal transportation of minors abroad. The two men, whose names have not been released, could face from three to seven years in prison if convicted, Steblyuk said.
The younger man's wife, also a French citizen, who was staying at a hotel in a nearby town, is also being questioned, Steblyuk said. The babies have been sent to a local hospital. Mahdalyna Vizaver, deputy chief doctor at the Berehivska district hospital that has been taking care of the babies, said in televised remarks. "They have been well cared for."
A French diplomat said the embassy is aware of the situation and is offering assistance to the couple, who are effectively under house arrest. France is awaiting the next judicial step and has informed the couple's families, said the diplomat, who was not authorized to be publicly named according to government policy.
Steblyuk said border guards searched the van because the French men kept turning around to see what was happening inside the vehicle where loud music was playing, and they appeared nervous. "We noticed that they were looking at the interior, they looked like they were worried about something," said Steblyuk.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
