Father sells babies

CIREBON, West Java: Police arrested on Friday a man who sold four of his own children and was about to sell a fifth in the West Java town of Cirebon.

Cirebon Police chief Adj. Comr. Sr. Siswandi said the police arrested Anir, 29, when he attempted to sell a newborn baby who was several days old. The arrest was made following a report filed by his wife, Eli.

"Eli reported to the police because she could not stand him beating her to force her to agree to selling the babies," Siswandi said.

He said the couple had had seven children over the years, four of which had allegedly been sold two to three days after birth.

Anir allegedly sold the babies to different couples, charging between Rp 250,000 (about US$29) and Rp 600,000 for each baby.

Siswandi said that Anir had also confessed to selling his third child, who is now a fourth grader. Anir used the money to purchase a pedicab, which he still uses to earn a living.

Some couples to whom the babies were allegedly sold said they had adopted the babies and had paid Anir only to help cover midwife costs.-- JP