Indonesian baby caught in NZ legal wrangle
Indonesian baby caught in NZ legal wrangle
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP): A nameless infant without a
country is caught in a legal limbo, the outcome of a baby
smuggling case that has seen one American woman jailed and two
other people still to stand trial.
The baby was bought for $350 (NZ$620) in Indonesia last year
as part of an elaborate plan by two American woman to give one of
them a child of her own.
The infant, now estimated about eight months old and bearing
the name "Paul" given to him by welfare workers and foster
parents, has no known family and no papers or passport from his
country of birth.
New Zealand police admitted yesterday there is virtually no
hope of finding his Indonesian parents.
He arrived in New Zealand on another traveler's passport but
has no legal status here until it can be determined by the
courts.
Indonesian-born U.S. citizen Henriette Erika Langenbach, 52,
of Elgin, Texas, described as the mastermind in the baby
trafficking case, was sentenced Wednesday to 2 years in jail for
selling a newborn infant to another Texan.
Langenbach had previously pleaded guilty to a baby kidnapping
scheme to sell the infant by having the buyer claim to be
pregnant, check into an Auckland motel, then pretend to have
given birth and leave with the child.
The "birth" was registered in New Zealand, but the plan was
foiled when an application was made to the U.S. Consulate for a
passport for the infant.
In New Zealand the "birth" would have qualified Baby Paul for
a New Zealand passport.
The buyer, 35-year-old Charli Shirley Connelly of Austin,
Texas, and an Australian doctor allegedly involved in the
transaction are still facing court proceedings.
Meanwhile, Baby Paul has been cared for by foster parents who
also have an Indonesian background.
Baby Paul, now without legal status, is a quandary for New
Zealand. Never before have the courts or authorities had to deal
with a baby from another country left in the care of social
welfare authorities.
Julie Sutherland, manager of the local office of the Children,
Young Persons and Their Families Service, the national government
agency that looks after child welfare, said the service had
applied to the Family Court for guardianship of Paul.
Until the department is granted legal guardianship of Baby
Paul no decision can be made on his future.
"What we want for him is to have two loving parents who will
give him the best life possible. He's gorgeous. He's a lovely
baby and doing all the right things at the right time," she said.