Chinese baby back in safe hands after being traded by traffickers, father among suspects arrested
Infant is believed to have switched hands five times in three months, as his ‘price’ more than doubled
A baby boy from southern China who was allegedly sold by his father to traffickers is back in safe hands after being returned to his grandmother, state media reported recently.
The infant, whose age was not given, is believed to have changed hands five times over three months, according to a video report by state broadcaster CCTV that was shared online.
Police interviewed 15 people in connection with the case, eight of whom are now in custody awaiting trial, the report said.
The youngster’s ordeal began in April when his father, surnamed Deng, with whom he lived in Fangchenggang, a city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, allegedly sold him for 45,000 yuan (US$6,800) to an unnamed buyer.
The boy’s mother, and former girlfriend of the father, became suspicious when Deng refused to let her see the baby during a video call, the report said. She contacted the police and an investigation was started.
Few precise details of the case have been released, but the report said the baby was traded like a commodity several times, before ending up in the home of a man in Guangdong province, who is accused of paying 100,000 for the child.
Police were able to track down the child and he was returned to his grandmother earlier this month, the report said.
