10 held for running wombs for hire syndicate

THE Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) has 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), 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.

Yesterday, 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 will reportedly also charge surrogate mothers and interrogate the arrested suspects to uncover other surrogacy cases. — The Nation/ANN