Thailand arrests five gynaecologists connected to surrogacy ring

BANGKOK (The Nation/ANN): The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) on Wednesday (July 15) morning summoned 10 people suspected of being part of an illegal surrogacy gang.

Five of the suspects are gynaecologists (three from private hospitals and two from a public hospital near Victory Monument), one is a lab technician whose duty was to mix the eggs and sperm of good-looking models, and four are female agents who found women willing to hire out their wombs.

In a raid on Feb 13, police managed to arrest 21 suspects, while two escaped to China.

On Wednesday, the 10 suspects were taken to the Office of the Attorney-General and charged with conspiring to commit a crime and violating the Protection for Children Born Through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act.

The Medical Council of Thailand is also collaborating with ATPD to look into disciplinary action on breach of duty by the five doctors.

Police are reportedly also going to charge surrogate mothers, and interrogate the arrested suspects to uncover other surrogacy cases. - The Nation/Asia News Network