More suspects in baby trafficking case to stand trial

More suspects involved in the case of an obstetrician trafficking seven babies, one of whom died, will go on trial on Monday in northwest China's Shaanxi province.

The People's Court of Linwei District in Weinan city on Sunday confirmed the scheduled trial to Xinhua, but refused to release the identities of the suspects.

On Dec. 30, Zhang Shuxia, a doctor at Fuping County Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, pleaded guilty to selling seven babies to human traffickers after persuading their parents to give up their "sick" newborns. She is awaiting sentencing.

The obstetrician's involvement in baby trafficking and criminality across many provinces was exposed in July 2013, when a mother, surnamed Dong, suspected her baby had been abducted. She reported the incident to police.

Zhang falsely claimed that Dong's child had a congenital disease, according to Weinan Intermediate People's Court. The baby was found in good condition in neighboring Henan Province on Aug. 5.

Two twin baby girls were also rescued from neighboring Shanxi Province and Shandong Province in east China on Aug. 10 after their mother, surnamed Wang, contacted police in Fuping.

Nine suspects were detained in August, including Zhang. The hospital's president, Wang Li, two other senior hospital managers, and three county officials were dismissed.