Thirteen (13) women from the Philippines have been convicted of human trafficking in Cambodia.
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| Agencies in Cambodia continue to offer surrogacy services despite being illegal in the country. Photo: Getty Images via bbc.com |
The women were convicted for intending to sell babies they carried through surrogacy.
The were sentenced to four (4) years in prison, however, with two (2) years suspended, according to the Kandal Provincial Court.
The court revealed it had cogent evidence showing that the women intended on having the babies “to sell to a third person in exchange for money, which is an act of human trafficking”.
Until giving birth, the women are not expected to serve any jail time.
The court did not reveal what will happen to the babies when they are born.
In Cambodia, surrogacy is illegal, but agencies have not stopped offering the service.
