Dutch couple who adopted Belgian surrogate baby online given jail sentences by appeal court

A Dutch couple who paid €15,000 to adopt a baby on the internet have had their convictions upheld by an appeal court in Belgium.
  Baby Donna was the subject of a high-profile cross-border dispute eight years ago when her natural father and his partner, from Antwerp, fell out with the surrogate mother who was carrying her.

 

Her father, Bart Philtjens, and his partner Geertrui Praet had also been found guilty of mistreating the girl. They were cleared by the appeal court, which said they acted in good faith and had no intention of treating their child as a commodity.

 

The surrogate mother told Mr Philtjens she had suffered a miscarriage before advertising the baby online. A couple from Leusden, near Utrecht, agreed to adopt Donna for €15,000.

 

A Belgian court ruled that the deal was illegal, but Dutch authorities allowed Donna to stay with her adoptive parents because she had formed a strong bond with them.

 

 The surrogate mother was given a suspended jail sentence of one year, while her partner was fined €1650. The appeal court found they were “out for financial gain” and had offered the child to the “highest bidder”.

 

 The Dutch couple who adopted her were given eight-month suspended sentences. Judges said they were culpable because they were aware that Mr Philtjens and Ms Prate still wanted to adopt her.

 

 The court said the fact that Donna, now eight years old, was being looked after in a loving environment did not detract from the fact that the original transaction was degrading. The adoptive parents have the right to appeal.

Source: NOS: Cel voor adoptieouders baby Donna