Group of 43 surrogate mothers freed on bail

Forty-three pregnant women, charged in connection with two surrogacy businesses in Phnom Penh last year, have been released on bail, a senior official said yesterday. Chou Bun Eng, chairwoman of the National Committee for Anti-Human Trafficking, yesterday said the women were released in two batches, earlier this year and last month.

“Through the committee’s legal assistance team, the women pledged and convinced the judge that they would take good care of their children,” she said. “They promised not to sell their children for money.” Ms Bun Eng noted that the 43 women are still under court supervision, meaning that they still face legal action pending an investigation.

“Although they are not placed in prison, their charges still stand,” she said. “If they break their promises or are involved in the surrogacy business again, they will be arrested and placed in prison. On June 21, 32 of the women were arrested when police raided a house in Russey Keo district. Five members of a surrogacy ring were also arrested.

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