Cambodian surrogate mothers bailed

An undated handout photo made available by the Cambodia National Police on Nov 13 shows a group of women in Phnom Penh Police custody in Cambodia. (Cambodia National Police via EPA-EFE)

PHNOM PENH: More than 30 Cambodian women paid to carry babies for Chinese clients have been released on bail after agreeing to keep the children, officials said Thursday, as the country tightens its grip on the illegal but lucrative surrogacy trade.

The women were charged with human trafficking after they were discovered in June during a raid on a surrogacy business in the capital Phnom Penh, the latest in a series of arrests targeting the practice.

Cambodia banned surrogacy in 2016 in an attempt to prevent it from spreading in the developing country after Thailand pulled the plug on the trade the previous year.

But China's easing of its one-child policy has seen demand for fertility clinics rise and shadow markets in Cambodia continue to offer the service despite attempts by authorities to crack down.

Pon Samkhan, secretary general for the National Committee for Counter-Trafficking, told AFP on Thursday that the 32 women were released on bail this week, with the last 17 of them freed on Wednesday.

She said the women -- many of whom are currently pregnant -- agreed "not to give up their babies" before they were released on bail.

A senior police official at the Committee for Counter-Trafficking confirmed their release and said it was done on "humanitarian grounds".

"They have agreed not to sell the babies and will raise them," the source said, adding that if they break the agreement they could face at least 15 years in jail.

The case also saw five people, including a Chinese national, arrested and charged with human trafficking.

But Sam Everingham, founder of Families Through Surrogacy, an Australian non-profit organisation, said surrogate mothers in Cambodia usually do not have the financial means to care for another child, and called it a "tragic" case for all.

"Cambodia is using draconian policy to force well-meaning Cambodians into new relationships with other people's genetic children which they never dreamed of creating," Mr Everingham said.

"The effect on the lives of innocent parties may be devastating."

Last month, another 18 people in Cambodia -- including 11 alleged surrogate mothers -- were charged for taking part in an illegal surrogacy business.