Society

Father sells baby daughter to buy baby boy

By Li Qian (Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-08-02 13:33

A father from Yongtai, S.E. China's Fujian Province sold his daughter to a human trafficker so he could buy a baby boy, the Fujian-based Southeast Express reported.

A group of 31 are being arrested in connection with a human trafficking ring. Thirteen babies were found before being sold to buyers.

A baby rescued by Fujian police. [Southeast Express]

The gang purchased unwanted babies in Yunnan Province from parents who were unable to raise their children or needed money, and sold them in Fujian for a large profit.

A father surnamed Chen confessed after being caught that he and his wife had two baby girls, but they wanted a son to carry on the family name. They sold their youngest daughter to Zhang Moujin who then sold them a boy.

According to Zhang's confession, she made nearly ten thousand yuan by selling the first child she bought from Fujian seller Li Moufen. The sale excited her and made her determined to make more money by dealing babies.

Zhang and Li agreed that Zhang would look for families that wanted to adopt children in Fujian, while Li would be in charge of providing children bought in Yunnan. As the number of babies that Li brought from Yunnan couldn't meet Zhang's demand, Zhang began searching for deserted or abandoned babies everywhere.

Chinese criminal law states selling three children is a crime punishable by death.