Thai surrogacy scandal: Ministry to take care of another Shigeta baby

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SURROGACY SCANDAL
Ministry to take care of another Shigeta baby
ANAN WIJITPRACHA,
NATTAWAT LAPING
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT and Human Resources Ministry will step in to take care of another baby born to the Japanese man at the centre of a surrogacy scandal.

Mitsutoki Shigeta, 24, caught media attention as evidence showed he had already fathered 12 babies through surrogacy services in Thailand.

Nine of these babies are now under the ministry's care and another is still at a hospital in Chiang Rai province.

The baby girl at the hospital was born in early September, nearly a month after Shigeta left Thailand. His lawyer, however, is still active in handling his surrogacy cases here.

The ministry plans to put the newborn under its care to protect it from being taken out of Thailand before proper authorisation. Under Thai law, the baby is the legitimate child of the surrogate mother.

"We have already written to the hospital director to request that the baby remains with the hospital first. We will then send officials to interview the surrogate mother," Preeda Kunama of the Chiang Rai social development and human security office said. He also chairs the province's children-protection committee.

Shigeta is from a wealthy family. His lawyer has told police that Shigeta wants many babies to help him take care of his family businesses.

After the case caught the attention of authorities, All IVF Clinic's owner, Dr Pisit Tantiwattanakul, was pulled in for questioning. His clinic provided the surrogacy services to Shigeta.

Police have now charged Pisit with failing to ensure that services provided at his clinic complied with laws of medical practice - and also with operating the clinic without a proper licence. Pisit has denied all charges.

Meanwhile, the Pavena Foundation yesterday called on police to look after a woman who was allegedly intimidated after cancelling a surrogacy contract. The woman is now pregnant with a surrogate baby.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Ministry-to-take-care-of-another-Shigeta-baby-30243002.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-11

[The stuttering parrot]

This is just another sad story in this murky world of international surrogacy.

Exploiting and now intimidating dirt poor women with wombs to rent is now getting the headlines these bottom feeders deserve.

Seems like either party who participate in the surrogacy trade don't give damn about the end result namely the child and how they will feel when they want to know where they came from.

Just ban it worldwide!

There are orphanages all over the world full of kids looking for a warm loving home with loving parents.

What's next designer babies with blonde hair and blue eyes?

I think someone has already tried that.

[NeilSA1]

"His lawyer has told police that Shigeta wants many babies to help him take care of his family businesses."

Sorry, I just cannot believe this story. False pathetic story.

[worgeordie]

It should be an urgent priority,to investigate what his real reason is

for wanting all these babies,before anymore are taken from Thailand.

This is a very unsavory business,fueled by greed and money on the

Thai side,it will be the poor mothers that will be getting the short end

of the stick,the Drs and clinics that are making the big bucks.

regards Worgeordie

[NongKhaiKid]

Are the BIB rolling along hoping Shigeta will actually come back for interview and the threats of an arrest warrant are so empty as it would have no standing outside LoS ? The BIB can go to Japan where they have no jurisdiction and are at an immediate disadvantage.

Does the infamous BIB interview ' extension ' apply extra-territoriality.

IF they really want him they will have to put a decent case together that satisfies Interpol before a Red Notice can be issued.

[greenchair]

They have not found him guilty of anything. Once again; he did this, he did that, with no proof of a specific law being broken. Those poor babies were very well cared for with a private nanny for each one. Now they are in an orphanage, with 1 person to care for dozens of babies and no love. If he does get them back, i imagine they will be quite damaged. as for that poor intimidated scammer. She took the money, spent it then backed out and contracted to someone else. She should return the money that she took.these girls know exactly what they are doing. It's their body. If They want to do that, it's their business. The young women here seem to have an easier time separating from the babies and they don't seem to have the lifelong anxiety and longing to be with the child as western woman do. It is purely a financial transaction, no strings attached. That is why it is popular in Asia.