Gynecologist detained for alleged infant trafficking

A gynecologist in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has been detained on suspicions of infant trafficking, local police said Friday.

On July 17, the gynecologist from Fuping County Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, surnamed Zhang, allegedly sold a newborn to a man and woman from neighboring Shanxi Province for 21,600 yuan (3,494 U.S. dollars), according to the county's public security bureau.

Police found that Zhang lied to the mother of the baby born on July 16, telling the mother that her child had a congenital infectious disease and disability, then the gynecologist tricked the mother into letting her handle the baby.

The mother, surnamed Dong, believed her baby had been abducted and reported the incident to police on July 20.

The two people from Shanxi, surnamed Pan and Cui, have also been detained. They later sold the baby to someone else for 30,000 yuan.

Police are still searching for the second buyers and the baby.

By Friday afternoon, another four families in Fuping had reported experiences similar to Dong's to local police, the bureau said.

Further investigation should be launched to determine whether the other families' newborn babies were trafficked and if their cases are related to the latest child trafficking case, it said.

Local media in Shaanxi on Friday reported that seven local families have had experiences similar to Dong's. Local authorities have taken note of the report.