Chinese man snatches son, 2, from mistress’ arms and sells him for 44,000 yuan to pay off debts
The married man had earlier been beaten up by his creditors, to whom he owed 3 million yuan
A married man with debts of 3 million yuan (HK$3.4 million) has been arrested in eastern China for allegedly selling the two-year-old son he fathered with his mistress.
The 33-year-old man, surnamed Chen, wrested the boy from his mother’s arms before fleeing Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, on October 17, three days after he was beaten up by his creditors, Thepaper.cn reported.
Later that day, Chen boarded a train with his son to Hunan province and sold the child for 44,000 yuan to a 40-year-old divorced man who was suffering from infertility, according to the report.
Chen had contacted the buyer, surnamed Zhu, in an online chat room for people seeking adoption, the report said.
Claiming to be a single mother who could not afford to bring up the child, Chen first asked for 100,000 yuan but lowered the price to 44,000 yuan after some bargaining.
When the two men met, Chen told Zhu he was the boy’s uncle.
Chen chalked up 3 million yuan of debt after losing money from his business and stock investments, according to the report.
He was arrested at an internet cafe on October 21 after the boy’s mother reported to police that Chen had abducted their child.
The boy, who had been living with Zhu for a week, was returned to his mother on Monday.
Zhu is now on bail while Chen remains under detention, according to the report.
