BUKIT MERTAJAM: As the Penang police intensify investigations into a second baby-for-sale racket which they uncovered on Thursday, it despatched a team to Selangor on Friday, resulting in the rescue of another baby.
MORAL SUPPORT: A family member consoling a female suspect before they walk into the court. — Bernama photo
The two-month-old male, believed to be a victim of a syndicate selling babies and toddlers, was found at a house about 1pm in USJ, Subang Jaya.
A 32-year-old woman, believed to have bought the baby from the syndicate, was detained to facilitate investigations under the ‘Pintas Sayang II Operation’ mounted by the state police.
Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said yesterday, based on public information and intelligence, a police team rescued the baby and nabbed the suspect.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, in a follow-up operation the police picked up another woman in Cheras, Selangor yesterday to facilitate investigations into the syndicate’s activities.
“Until yesterday, we succeeded in rescuing 22 babies and toddlers who were believed to be victims of the syndicate and detained 45 people under the ‘Pintas Sayang II Operation’,” he added.
This is the second baby-for-sale syndicate which the police had unearthed.
On Jan 24, the Penang police crippled a syndicate selling babies and toddlers, which had operated actively in the state, Kedah and Perak, with the arrest of 33 people. Eight babies and a toddler were rescued.
The syndicate, which was active since 2009, had also offered cash of between RM2,500 and RM4,500 to foreign women who gave birth to illegitimate babies and wanted to sell the new-born as they were strapped for cash.
Initial police investigations revealed that babies and toddlers were sold at between RM18,000 and RM30,000, complete with registration documents and medicine.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rahim said, the police had obtained a remand order from the Bukit Mertajam magistrate’s court assistant registrar Ahmad Faiz Md Zain to detain the 45 suspects in connection with the second baby-for-sale racket.
He said the suspects, aged between 27 and 57, would be remanded for four days, until Tuesday.
They comprised engineers and lecturers, among others. — Bernama