Melbourne: Can the craze for an iPhone take you to the level where you sell your kid to buy it? Here’s the story of a Chinese couple who actually did so.
A pair of 19-year-olds became unwilling parents after accidentally conceiving and when the child was 18-day-old, they used the social media to free themselves of their living, breathing burden, reports news.com.au.
The couple put the baby up for sale on instant messaging service QQ for 23,000 Yuan, because they were going short of cash to buy a new iPhone and a motorbike.
The baby, who was reportedly purchased by a Chinese man, is currently living with the man’s sister until the police resolve the situation.
The original father was arrested after the “new father” handed himself in to authorities and has been sentenced a three-year jail term. The baby’s biological mother was tracked down to record her statement to the police.
“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.
In China, it’s believed thousands of children are stolen and sold online each year. Around the world, it’s less common, but it still happens.
In 2013, an Indian man was arrested for selling his grandson on Facebook. (ANI)