December 15, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysian police said Monday they have rescued five infants and arrested 13 people including a doctor after exposing a baby-selling racket.
Federal criminal investigation chief Bakri Zinin said the syndicate bought babies from women, mainly foreign maids working in Malaysia, who were talked out of having abortions.
"We received a tip-off from the public about the syndicate which has been operating for more than five years," Bakri said.
"The couples who wanted to buy the babies pay between 15,000-20,000 ringgit (4,400-5,900 dollars) for a baby, while these women were promised to be paid around 5,000 ringgit although later they were only given 2,000 ringgit."
Bakri said the women who gave up their babies were from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and local indigenous tribes.
He said the 13 arrests were made earlier this month and included couples intending to buy the babies, as well as a doctor who owns a private medical centre in central Selangor state.
The five infants, two girls and three boys, were rescued from the homes of their adopted parents when the police made the arrests.
"The women stay in a house provided by the syndicate during their pregnancy and are given free medical care. They are taken to the concerned private medical centre when they want to deliver," Bakri said.
Police are still tracking down other suspects involved in the syndicate, who could be charged under anti-trafficking laws, he added.
