A young Chinese couple from the Chongqing Municipality have reportedly sold their newborn baby for 2,500 yuan ($366) and then used the money to buy a new mobile phone.

The story in the Chongqing Economic times tells us that the child’s 19 year old mother, Zhang Yao, met the 21 year old father, Xin, on the internet. Their relationship flourished and Zhang gave birth to a bouncing baby girl in November.

The couple believed that they wouldn’t be able to afford to raise the child and so, only six days after the baby was born, they sold the little girl to a man who gave his name as Li Yong.

Police have said that the child’s parents, Zhang and Xin, were unemployed and spent most of their time on the internet. Their parents were unable to offer any financial support and this led to them deciding to sell their newborn baby girl.

The parents are now reported to have expressed regret that they sold their newborn baby girl and the child’s mother, Zhang, has said that after she was parted from her little girl she kept crying and she would now like to raise a child. The father, Xin, asked police officers if he could now take the baby back from the welfare center where the little girl is currently being cared for.

Welfare center staff have said that the baby is well behaved, has a healthy appetite and is not frightened by strangers.

Police in the Longsha district have said that they hope that the family can be re-united and that the baby will be back with her parents very soon.

Although the selling of children for money is recognized as smuggling, a criminal offence, police are still investigating whether anyone should be held criminally responsible.

This latest shocking story from China is the latest case in which a very young couple have fallen into parenthood without any planning or thought for how they would support their newborn child.

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