BANGKOK,
May 27 (TNA) – A Thai doctor has been charged with conspiring in a
transnational surrogacy ring involving Chinese nationals as four other doctors have
been summoned by police for their suspected roles.
An anti-human
trafficking police unit has pressed charges against the former doctor of a
state-run hospital in Bangkok for involvement in a transnational crime and
engaging in commercial surrogacy.
The
unidentified doctor allegedly conducted artificial dissemination and
transferred embryos into surrogate mothers’ wombs. His criminal activity has been exposed after
Thai police found a group of Chinese nationals hiring Thai women to serve as
surrogate mothers in February.
After
acknowledging the charge, the doctor was released on bail on Tuesday, according
to police. Four other doctors have been
summoned for questioning at the Royal Thai Police’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons
Division (ATPD).
The illegal
surrogacy operation was busted at 10 locations in Thailand, including Bangkok,
Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Sukhothai and Pathum Thani. All
are linked to a woman who served as an agent and have transferred money for
more than 70 times, according to police.
The woman has
also been released on bail.
At a house in
Bangkok, police found a 30-day old baby and seven pregnant surrogate mothers.
Police said
the Chinese group has hired brokers and at least 100 Thai surrogate mothers
since 2012. (TNA)
