JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Police on Thursday detained 23 people and rescued four babies in operations against a baby-for-sale syndicate, which bought infants from expecting women and sold them to childless couples.

Among those detained were the syndicate's main players - a doctor who operated a private clinic, his staff, runners and a National Registration Department official who provided forged identity documents for the infants.

Also detained were four couples who bought babies from the syndicate.

They were picked up from their houses and the babies, aged between 7 months and 1 year, were taken away by Welfare Department officers.

Johor police refused to divulge details on how the syndicate operated, who their clients were and the identity of the suspects.

Police are also still trying to establish whether the syndicate had sold babies to Singaporean couples.

The arrests were made during a joint operation between the Federal police and Johor police following a tip-off.

State Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner II Amer Awal said of the 23 suspects, 14 were women.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 60, included three foreigners.

Police were led to the houses of couples who bought the babies after finding documents revealing their addresses when they raided a private clinic at Menara Landmark, here, on Thursday.

It is learnt that the clinic had been operating for more than five years and police are investigating how many babies had been sold.

Among those detained at the clinic were the doctor, his wife and several staff members.

Amer said police seized computers, laptops, documents, handphones and RM4,199 from the clinic.

"The babies were taken into custody and sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, where their DNA samples were collected for analysis by the Chemistry Department.

"The babies are now under the care of the state Welfare Department."

Sources said the syndicate operated mainly from the private clinic, which also offered illegal abortions.

Poor mothers who conceived out of wedlock and wanted to undergo an abortion were first persuaded to "keep their pregnancy".

After giving birth, the syndicate would purchase the infant from them.

Federal Police Sexual Abuse and Child Investigation Division (D11) deputy director, Assistant Commissioner Suguram Bibi, said police were expecting to make more arrests and urged those who had bought babies to come forward.

It is learnt that the price for a Chinese baby is between RM10,000 and RM20,000, while a baby from another race would cost below RM10,000.

The mothers were paid between RM700 and several thousand ringgit, depending on the gender of the baby.

Once a woman agreed to continue with her pregnancy, the clinic would provide free maternity check-ups and vitamins to ensure that the baby was healthy.

If the mother was an unwed teenager, the clinic would even provide free accommodation and meals once the pregnancy became noticeable, so that the mother would not be harassed by parents or guardians.

The suspects have been remanded till tomorrow.

Amer said the case would be investigated as forgery of birth registration and the unlawful transfer of possession, custody or control of a child.

He urged those with information to contact the Johor police hotline at 07-2212999.

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