Doc arrested in baby-selling racket

A doctor is believed to be at the centre of a nationwide baby-for sale racket which sold babies and children since 2009.

He was among those arrested in the police crackdown against the syndicate-- where nine babies and children, aged between two months and eight years-- were rescued at an undisclosed location.

Initial police investigations revealed that the nine - seven Thais, Bangladeshi-Indonesian and a local - were meant for sale to ready buyers.

A National Registration Department (NRD) civil servant, suspected to have been working in cahoots with the suspect, was also detained.

Thirty-one other suspects linked to the syndicate have been picked up in a series of operations in Penang, Kedah and Perak since December last year, to facilitate investigations.

State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi attributed valuable public information, fuelled by thorough police investigation, to the arrest of the suspects, aged between 23 and 52.

He said the doctor, who practised at a private medical centre, was believed to have worked closely with the NRD civil servant in the baby-for-sale racket carried out by the syndicate.

"Initial investigations have revealed that the babies and children were sold for between RM18,000 and RM30,000, depending on their physique, look and gender.

"The sales transactions came complete with registration and medical documents for its customers, most of whom were locals.

"The rescued babies and children have been placed at a shelter home supervised by the police, prior to obtaining a court order for further action," he told reporters here today.

Abdul Rahim said, during the raid, the police seized five MyKid cards, 14 birth certificates, 18 medical records, all deemed to be original, as well as RM15,000.

Nevertheless, he declined to disclose details of the operation and location of the raid as investigations were underway.

He said syndicate members paid between RM2,500 and RM4,500 to foreign women who delivered out of wedlock, and those willing to put up their children for sale.

The 33 suspects have been remanded to facilitate investigations under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and fine, upon conviction.