Orphanage managers arrested for selling children

The Tia Sang School in Bao Loc Town, Lam Dong Province

The president of an orphanage in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has been arrested for further investigations into allegations the children were being sold.

Provincial police on Friday said besides president Nguyen Van Manh, they are also investigating To Tuan Anh, who had established the Tia Sang (Ray of Light) School for homeless and disabled children. Anh has been accused of selling five children for VND20-25 million (US$1,122-1,400) each from 2007 onwards.

Three of the children have been identified, police said.

Anh was also found to be trading in banned goods in the name of raising funds for the school, the newswire Vnexpress said Saturday.

School official Tran Van Huu who allegedly demanded and received money from people looking to adopt children has also been arrested.

The case, which according to the police was 'serious', has been reported to the Ministry of Public Security and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong.

Tia Sang School was a private social welfare institution that opened early in 2002. As of May 2009, the school was taking care of 31 children, most of them homeless and some having cerebral palsy.

The school was dissolved late July after it was found to be in poor condition and unable to provide for the children's needs; and also due to rumors that some children had been given for adoption for a price.

Source: Thanh Nien, Nguoi Lao Dong