Bangkok: A Criminal Court sentenced four obstetricians and gynecologists to 15 years in prison for a transnational surrogacy case, ruling that their actions treated humans as mere commodities and constituted a serious breach of medical ethics.
According to Thai News Agency, the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road scheduled a hearing for the verdict in two surrogacy cases, where the Public Prosecutor's Office, Criminal Division 6, acted as the plaintiff against Dr. Chanin, a former obstetrician-gynecologist, and 10 others. The defendants were charged with participating in a transnational organized crime syndicate, engaging in a surrogacy scheme for commercial purposes, and illegally importing or exporting human eggs, embryos, and sperm. Although the defendants were granted temporary bail, the atmosphere in courtroom 904 was tense as all ten defendants, including doctors and brokers, were present.
The court found that the defendants had systematically planned and executed illegal acts to profit from the egg trade, offering and selling eggs at will. Their actions were linked to a transnational organized crime group. Defendants 1-4, who were obstetricians and gynecologists, argued that their actions took place in countries where no laws prohibited such acts. However, in Thailand, these activities are illegal, and they used human cells for commercial purposes, treating humans as commodities, which is against the regulations of the Medical Council.
Defendants 7-10, the group of brokers, were found responsible for causing lifelong emotional scars to the children involved, requiring state intervention for care. Furthermore, the defendants' actions damaged the country's image and reputation. Consequently, the court imposed severe penalties, with Defendant 1 receiving 15 years imprisonment, Defendant 2 receiving 13 years and 51 months, Defendant 3 receiving 10 years and 6 months, and Defendant 4 receiving 13 years and 6 months. Others, including defendants 7-10, received varying sentences. Charges against defendants 5 and 6 were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
The Anti-Trafficking Division of the police provided credible evidence linking the network to Mr. Ran Zhao, a Chinese financier arrested in February 2020 for a similar scheme. This network involved hiring Thai women as surrogate mothers, with procedures conducted in neighboring countries before returning to Thailand. The doctor in question played a key role in the operation by preparing and injecting sperm to achieve pregnancy.
Additionally, a Thai female broker was arrested in Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan province, where police discovered over 70 international financial transactions. Mr. Zhao Ran and three associates confessed to hiring Thai women illegally, leading to a 150-year sentence, reduced to 75 years, but capped at 50 years by law. They remain in custody.