Henan farmer bought boy from alleged trafficker for 60,000 yuan

A baby boy allegedly kidnapped and sold by a doctor in Fuping, Shaanxi province, was returned to his parents on Monday as six suspects in the case helped police inquiries.

The baby, who was trafficked to Henan province, arrived in Fuping early on Monday morning, said Meng Lefeng, deputy director of the information office of the Fuping county Party committee.

He was handed to his mother Dong Shanshan and father Lai Guofeng at 11:30 am at Fuping Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital.

Dong held him tightly as family members wept before the parents knelt to thank police for recovering the infant.

Police sources said a DNA test confirmed that the baby was the couple's son.

Chen Jianfeng, deputy director of Fuping public security bureau, said police received a report of a missing baby from Lai on July 20.

The report stated that the doctor, Zhang Suxia, who was responsible for the birth, told the couple that the baby had serious congenital diseases and had made them surrender him, but Lai suspected their son was trafficked by the doctor.

An investigation was carried out and three suspects, including the doctor, were caught by police.

With information obtained from the suspects, police found the baby in a farmer's house in Huaxian, Henan province, and rescued him early on Sunday morning.

Another three suspects in Henan involved in the case were detained by police.

Hao Zhigang, deputy director of Huaxian county public security bureau, said the baby was bought by farmer Zhu Shouqi who has three daughters and was eager to have a son so he spent 60,000 yuan ($9,796) to buy the baby from the alleged child traffickers.

Zhang, the doctor, made 21,000 yuan from the illegal business, police said.

Lai Tianxiang, the baby's grandfather, said the family was relieved to see the boy returned in good health.

But he said they had been disappointed and angry when they told hospital directors about the missing baby. He said hospital officials never went to the ward to comfort the mother and family.

Lai, the baby's father, said they will examine the infant before leaving for home but will continue working to establish the responsibilities of the doctor and the hospital.

"We will comprehensively examine and observe the baby in the hospital for some time before taking him home if he is healthy," Lai said.

On Sunday afternoon when Wang Li, the hospital's former director, went to the ward to visit the mother, she was pushed out of the ward by angry family members. Gifts that Wang brought for the family were thrown out.

On Saturday, Wang Li and two deputy directors at the hospital were dismissed by the county government for their poor management.

"It was useless for the former hospital director to come then. Why didn't they come a week ago when we talked to them about the missing baby," said grandfather, Lai Tianxiang.

He said the doctor, Zhang Suxia, 55, was a classmate in primary and junior high school and was well known in his village after she became an obstetrician.

"My family and I fully trusted her," he said.

Fuping county police said they have received reports from seven local families who said their babies were born in the hospital and taken away by Zhang, who told them the babies had serious diseases and would be heavy financial burdens.

Contact the writers at luhongyan@chinadaily.com.cn and malie@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 08/06/2013 page4)