Chinese Child Trafficker Sentenced to Death After Abducting and Selling 11 Children
A woman in China has been sentenced to death for her involvement in child trafficking. Yu Huaying was found guilty of abducting and selling 11 children in a case that dates back to the 1990s. The verdict was revealed on the official WeChat account of the Guiyang Intermediate People’s Court in Guizhou province.
According to the court, Yu operated in southwestern China, including Chongqing and Guizhou. She would then transport the abducted children to Handan city in northern Hebei province, where she would sell them to buyers. Yu committed these crimes in collaboration with her partner, surnamed Gong, who has since passed away. The court also stated that two people who acted as intermediaries in trafficking children in Hebei would face separate legal actions.
The severity of Yu’s crimes is reflected in her sentencing, as the court deemed her actions to have caused extremely significant social harm and the criminal circumstances to be particularly severe. Nevertheless, instead of confessing her crimes and expressing remorse, Yu intends to appeal against the court’s decision.
Yu’s involvement in child trafficking reportedly began with the sale of her own son back in 1992. Born from an extramarital affair with Gong, Yu sold her son in Hebei province for 5,000 yuan due to the complicated situation surrounding their marriages. It is important to note that her son was not among the 11 children involved in the trafficking case.
Over the years, Yu and Gong continued to commit crimes related to child trafficking. The Beijing outlet reported that they would live in an area for a certain period, familiarize themselves with the local community, and then target suitable children. Yu would lure these children away using snacks. Most of the victims came from low-income families whose parents had to work long hours outside their homes, making it difficult for them to pay adequate attention to their children.
This is not the first time Yu has been detained by authorities for her involvement in child trafficking. She has been taken into custody twice in the 2000s for similar crimes.
Child trafficking is a long-standing and notorious issue in China. The country has witnessed numerous high-profile cases in recent years, bringing this problem to public attention. The number of cases of trafficking in women and children between 2010 and 2019 totaled 112,703, as reported by China’s National Bureau of Statistics.
The sentencing of Yu Huaying serves as a reminder of the gravity of the issue and the urgent need to address child trafficking in China. Authorities and law enforcement agencies continue to work towards combating this heinous crime and ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children.
