Couple jailed for selling two babies
A young unmarried couple, who sold their newborn baby girl for 20,000 yuan ($2,870), have been convicted of child trafficking and sentenced to prison by a court in Jiashan county, Zhejiang province, according to Qianjiang Evening News.
The 27-year-old father, surnamed Jia, was prosecuted by the Jiashan people’s procuratorate and given a sentence of five and a half years by the county court in the first trial at the end of November, with yuan the 26-year-old mother, surnamed Ding, having been sentenced to five years in prison earlier this year.
The couple had been in a relationship since 2009.
When Ding fell pregnant, they pretended that the baby belonged to another young couple who could not afford to raise her and wanted to find adoptive parents, posting messages on child adoption forums and QQ groups in June 2013.
After Ding gave birth to the girl, the couple sold her to the highest bidder, from neighboring Jiangsu province, who paid them 20,000 yuan.
The crime was uncovered last year as part of a local police initiative to fight trafficking of women and children.
Prosecutors said they were shocked to find that Ding had sold another baby girl in 2012.
After quarreling with her boyfriend during her pregnancy, she sold the baby to a buyer from Henan province for 10,000 yuan. She spent 3,000 yuan on renting a car to drive back to Zhejiang after delivering the baby to the buyer.
Jia confessed in court to using the money for daily expenses, including spending 2,000 yuan on a pet cat to please Ding.
“The cat is a comfort for her,” Jia said.
Both Ding and Jia defended their actions, saying they were giving the girls a better life.
“They can have a better quality of life in their new homes,” Jia said.
Jia filed an appeal against his conviction and the second hearing is scheduled for next year.
amount a young couple in Jiashan county, Zhejiang province, received for their newborn baby girl