Surrogacy scandal: Thai police hoping Japanese man returns to meet them this week

[webfact]

SURROGACY SCANDAL
Police hoping Japanese man returns to meet them this week
The Nation


Mitsutoki Shigeta

BANGKOK: -- THAI POLICE are awaiting the return of a Japanese man at the heart of surrogacy allegations concerning many children, whose lawyer has said will come back to Thailand this week to give information.

Deputy Metropolitan police commissioner Pol Maj Gen Thitirat Nongharnpitak said Mitsutoki Shigeta's lawyer told police Shigeta may meet police between Monday and Wednesday.

However, there has been no confirmation yet from his side about the meeting. Thitirat said police wished to ask Shigeta his real intention and the reason why he wanted to father as many children as possible via surrogacy.

"We would like to know about the babies whom Shigeta took out of Thailand and whether they are well-treated or face any threats," he said.

Thai authorities said the 24-year-old Japanese had fathered tens of babies through Thai surrogate mothers. He has not yet been charged with any crime.

Police will send a team to Cambodia to check reports that the Japanese man took four babies to Phnom Penh and raised them there.

A police source said if Shigeta failed to meet Thai police, a team would be set up to monitor people who were close to him, such as Samran Pasanay, owner of a house where the surrogate mothers and babies stayed, as well as Dr Pisit Tantiwattanakul, owner of a fertility clinic in Lumpini district that allegedly performed surrogacy services for the Japanese.

The source said police hoped Shigeta was sincere and concerned about his children so he would come to meet police as promised.

Meanwhile, police will issue a summons for Dr Pisit, possibly today, to discuss Shigeta and the doctor had until Friday to report himself, said Pol Maj Gen Suebsak Punsura, a Metropolitan police commander.

The Public Health Ministry last week sought police action against Dr Pisit for being negligent and allowing medical offences in his clinic. Pol Col Chaiya Kongsub, chief of Lumpini police, said the doctor was likely to still be here as the punishment was light - up to one year in prison or a fine of not more than Bt20,000 or both, he said.

Meanwhile, an Australian same-sex couple has been permitted to leave Thailand with a surrogate baby after background checks by Thai immigration authorities.

The couple sought assistance from the Australian embassy in Bangkok on Friday after being stopped at the airport. Four Australian and American couples were prevented from leaving the Kingdom with children born from Thai surrogate mothers last Thursday.

ABC News Radio confirmed one of the couples arrived in Singapore with twins born last month via a surrogate.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Police-hoping-Japanese-man-returns-to-meet-them-th-30241128.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-18

[thesetat2013]

If this Jap had no ill intentions i would think he would still refuse to show to (talk with police) given their history of beating confessions and manhandling suspects. He better make sure he brings his ATM card with him if he does come.

If the police ONLY wanted to question him they could easily do this by phone or Skype. Im not saying the man was right or wrong here. Only that here he must prove his innocence because in the polices eyes he is already guilty and will be charged as soon as he shows his face

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Payboy]

the doctor was likely to still be here as the punishment was light - up to one year in prison or a fine of not more than Bt20,000 or both, he said.

The heavier punishment is set for the Japanese for tarnishing the image of the country's medical profession, yes.

[chainarong]

Probably can not afford to return with the extended family.

[timmyp]

He's a billionaire, he can likely purchase his way out of this mess, though he may wait until tempers cool down first.

He never wanted the kids for himself, so I doubt he is troubled about how he needs to get them out of Thailand. He has accomplished his main goal of spawning himself, and although short of his goal of 100 or 1000 little Shigetas, I think getting the children to their adoptive parents is lower priority to him.

I wonder if we'll see interesting genetic research on these kids as they grow up: a 90% likelihood to own tentacle porn, 50% more likely to behave in a passive aggressive manner, 75% likelihood of to feign syrupy sweet humility while embracing a self-adoring bloated ego, etc.

[webfact]

'Baby factory' suspect living in Cambodia



BANGKOK: -- A Japanese businessman suspected of human trafficking after police raided his “baby factory” in Bangkok has invited Thai officials to Cambodia where four of his surrogate-born offspring are being raised, according to the Phnom Penh Post.

At a press conference on Saturday, Thai police said they would accept the offer, which was extended via the father’s self-described “coordinator”. A delegation will soon be sent to Cambodia to investigate the well-being of the infants, according to assistant Thai police chiefKokiatWongworachart.

MitsutokiShigeta, 24, is under investigation for suspicions that he was fathering and then selling numerous infants across Asia. Earlier this month, Thai police raided Shigeta’s Bangkok apartment, finding nine surrogate babies and a pregnant surrogate mother, as well as birth certificates linking him to another six infants in Thailand.

Police believe Shigeta fathered at least 15 babies in Thailand using donor eggs, in vitro fertilisation and 11 different surrogate mothers. Shigeta allegedly fled to Macau after being tipped off about the raid.

According to Thai immigration officers, Shigeta has visited Thailand over 40 times since 2012, and occasionally brought babies out of the country with him. Eleven of the infants, who are between 6 months and 1 year old, are currently in the care of the junta government, while four others are in Cambodia, where Shigeta reportedly holds a passport due to his investments in the Kingdom.

Ministry of Commerce records show four Cambodian businesses registered under the name “MitsutokiShigeta”. All four list the same phone number, which went unanswered yesterday, and are in SenSok and Chamkarmon districts. Government officials, however, said they are unaware of any investigation into Shigeta.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/baby-factory-suspect-living-cambodia/


-- Thai PBS 2014-08-18

[Khun Paul]

Judging by the way the Thai authorities seem to think anyone is guilty, then if I was him, I would stay a long way from Thailand until cool heads rule the day. he has not done anything wrong so coming back would then put him at the mercy of the so efficient police in Thailand.

[canuckamuck]

Judging by the way the Thai authorities seem to think anyone is guilty, then if I was him, I would stay a long way from Thailand until cool heads rule the day. he has not done anything wrong so coming back would then put him at the mercy of the so efficient police in Thailand.

I am willing to bet he has done something wrong, legally, what that is is yet to be discovered but definitely the suspicious behavior needs to be looked into.

He has also done something wrong ethically, unless he intends to be a father to all these kids personally.

I think he is a trafficker but we will have to see.

But he would be crazy to come back to Thailand, certainly. They will not hesitate to make an example of him unless he has deep pockets.

Edited August 18, 2014 by canuckamuck

[SOTIRIOS]

....seems the same as human trafficking.....

...to merely hope that this immoral character returns......is not enough....

[steveyinasia]

If the Red Bull brat is allowed to leave the country to escape charges, why can't a foreigner?

[Lupatria]

He's probably too busy as his daily motto seems to be: CARPE SCROTUM!

[cardinalblue]

Deep pockets? It's reported he is a billionaire...I believe his behavior has broken surrogate laws but up to this point thai gov hasn't enforced them so he needs a good lawyer...

CB

[borisloosebrain]

Fifteen kids !! The guy must be mad ! It's hard enough looking after just a few !

[klauskunkel]

He's probably too busy as his daily motto seems to be: CARPE SCROTUM!

seize it and squeeze it

[JesseFrank]

Deep pockets? It's reported he is a billionaire...I believe his behavior has broken surrogate laws but up to this point thai gov hasn't enforced them so he needs a good lawyer...

CB

It's indeed reported that he's a billionaire, but have you looked at his clothes he's wearing in all the pictures available of him so far ?

More looks like someone who gets paid a few thousand to do the dirty work.

Edited August 18, 2014 by JesseFrank

[canuckamuck]

Might be a billionaire but he is still a wa_ker.

Edited August 18, 2014 by canuckamuck

[Kalbo]

 

Fifteen kids !! The guy must be mad ! It's hard enough looking after just a few !

 

I wonder if they'll be able to get him for not having a work permit ?

[belg]

where did he get the eggs? japanese or thai ?