Malaysian police arrest 23 people in illegal adoption syndicate

May 25, 2008, 3:22 GMT

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian police arrested 23 people including three Singaporeans involved in a baby-selling syndicate in the southern state of Johor, reports said Sunday.

Police said the ringleader was a gynaecologist who operated a private clinic, along with his staff, runners and a National Registration Department official who provided forged identity documents for the infants.

Federal and state authorities also detained four childless couples who bought babies from the syndicate, the News Straits Times daily reported.

The babies, aged seven months to a year old, were handed over to the state welfare department and will be sent to a hospital to have their DNA samples taken for analysis.

'Police have also seized a computer and a laptop, several documents, mobile phones and 4,199 ringgit (1,242 dollars) in cash' head of state criminal investigations Amer Awal was quoted as saying.

He said 14 of the 23 suspects were women. Police were also trying to establish whether the syndicate had sold babies to Singaporean couples.

Amer said the suspects will be remanded until Monday and will be investigated for the forgery of birth registration and unlawful transfer of possession, custody or control of a child.