BANGKOK — Officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) have organized a task force to track down and apprehend suspects involved in the surrogacy-for-hire scheme who are still evading arrest warrants, especially those whose warrants are nearing expiration, in order to bring the accused into the justice system.
On December 13, Mr. Witthawat Sukhantharos, Director of the Investigation and Intelligence Center, arrested Ms. Amolaya (surname withheld) at a condominium on Ladprao Road, Chatuchak District, Bangkok. She was handed over to the Special Case Investigation Officer, Human Trafficking Division, for legal proceedings.
An investigation into a group of individuals operating an illegal surrogacy ring has revealed that they were hired by Chinese nationals. Evidence shows that Ms. Amolaya acted as a broker to arrange illegal surrogacies.
She was charged with jointly facilitating surrogacy for commercial benefit, jointly facilitating surrogacy for commercial benefit, and acting as intermediaries or agents by demanding or accepting property in exchange for facilitating surrogacy.
Last week, the Investigation and Intelligence Center apprehended Ms. Wanakarn and Ms. Wararat, who are suspects in the same case, at a hospital in the Khlong Chan area, Bang Kapi District, Bangkok. They also arrested Ms. Karnika in front of the Special Case Investigation Department.
All three are doctors and nurses involved in implanting embryos in the womb of a surrogate mother. The special investigation team has therefore charged them with providing medical reproductive technology services to facilitate surrogacy for a husband and wife without the committee’s approval, facilitating surrogacy for a Chinese couple, and jointly facilitating surrogacy for commercial purposes.
According to a report by the Associated Press, developing countries have been popular for surrogacy because costs are much lower compared to the United States and Australia, where surrogate services could cost around $150,000.
Earlier this month, thirteen women from the Philippines were convicted on human trafficking-related charges for acting as surrogates in Cambodia for a ring selling babies to foreigners for cash.
The women were each sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of selling, buying or exchanging a person for cross-border transfer, the Kandal Provincial Court said on December 2, 2024.
According to the verdict, two of the four years in prison were suspended, meaning they won’t have to be served unless they’re found guilty of another crime.
The women are held at a police hospital outside Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, and authorities have previously said they would not have to serve prison time until after giving birth.
The women can appeal the verdict, said court spokesperson So Sarin. He refused to comment on how many were still pregnant, or what would happen to the babies after they have given birth.
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