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Desperate for a new iPhone, one couple in China decided that selling their newborn baby was the only way they could get the ‘prized’ item.

According to Chinese news site, People’s Daily Online, a 19-year-old couple became less than willing parents after the unplanned conception of their child.  When the baby was just 18-days-old, the baby’s father used social media to trade their baby in for cold hard cash.

They allegedly placed their baby up for sale on instant messaging service QQ for 23,000 Yuan, the equivalent of $AU4700 – as they wanted to buy a new iPhone and a motorbike.

The baby was reportedly purchased by a Chinese man and is currently living with the man’s sister until police resolve the situation.

The 19-year-old biological father was arrested after the man who had ‘purchased’ the baby handed himself in to authorities.  The biological father is currently serving a three-year jail term.

The baby’s biological mother was also found and told her own ‘version’ of events surrounding the sale of her baby:

“I myself was adopted, and many people in my hometown send their kids to other people to raise them. I really didn’t know it was illegal,” she said, according to London newspaper The Telegraph.

It is believed thousands of children are stolen and sold online each year in China.  Around the world, it is less common but it still happens.

In 2013 for instance, an Indian man was arrested for selling his grandson on Facebook for less than $AUD1000.  Also in 2013, a British woman was found guilty of a similar crime when she posted an advertisement selling her four-month-old on Gumtree.

Image source: Getty Images

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  • Seriously a phone isn’t a prized possession. How can someone sell their own baby. Put it up for adoption if you don’t want to be a parent but don’t try profit from it

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  • Unbelievable. Some people are just selfish and greedy. I hope the bub finds a loving home.

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  • Seriously how could you not know selling your child online is wrong?

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  • A very sad situation that is hard to fathom.

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  • 3 years for selling your own child! I hope this little bubba finds a loving home. I know things are different in China, but the mother said she didn’t know it was illegal?!! This is very sad.

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  • What the bloody hell is wrong with people??? My children are my universe! I couldn’t ever imagine selling them! Not for all the tea in china! (which is a stupid saying, by the way… tea was Indian.) lol

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  • Seriously??? This is just insane! So horrible! :(

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  • Astonishing! Those parents shouldn’t be allowed to keep that child anymore. I’m sure the child will be better off with another family.

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  • How can you sell your baby for anything? Crazy!

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  • I hope the baby doesn’t go back to the biological parents – clearly they don’t care for or want the baby otherwise they wouldn’t have sold it :-(

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  • And unfortunately whilst there are many genuine people that would want to acquire the child it is more likely to end up in the hands of a pedophiles.
    imagine the potential for the child to suffer on a daily basis for his parents greed.
    I literally feel sick thinking about it.


    • I never thought of that. I only hope that the baby goes to a loving home with plenty of opportunites to reach potential. I noticed the article doesn’t state whether the baby is a boy or girl. I don’t know about now, but boys were far more valuable than girls were. Girls were more likely to be abandoned.

    Reply

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