The National Police detained three individuals on Tuesday over their suspected involvement in a surrogacy case at the Don Benito-Villanueva district hospital. The authorities confirmed that a 28-year-old mother gave birth under police custody yesterday morning. A second woman, aged 43, remains in custody, and a 42-year-old man is also in custody as part of the case. Spanish law prohibits this type of activity, and the National Police continue the investigation to fulfill their duties and safeguard the best interests of the child.
Francisco Mendoza, the government delegate for Extremadura, spoke to the media on Tuesday and said the case is under close examination. He acknowledged the possibility that a crime may have occurred and mentioned the situation could involve a legal dispute. According to Mendoza, the woman who gave birth might have offered to place the child with another couple, despite the ongoing police inquiry. He added that the detainees would be questioned, and if there is enough evidence, they will be brought to justice.
Tomorrow, at a court order
Three people detained in Don Benito for alleged surrogacy have already been handed over to the Court of First Instance. Sources from the Extremadura Superior Court of Justice confirmed the town’s Court Order No. 1 to Efe.
The detainees face charges related to surrogacy and associated offenses. They are being investigated for acts including the substitution of the child, identity-related crimes, and document falsification. When the hospital noticed inconsistencies between the documents of the birth mother and her appearance, it alerted the police, prompting further investigation.
Legal sources indicate that the judge is taking statements from the couple who allegedly sought to acquire the baby and may also request statements from the birth mother at the hospital. It is reported that the couple paid a sum of euro two thousand in Romania for the possibility of obtaining the newborn child, as disclosed by the National Police in a press release.
The police continue to reiterate that the three detainees are involved in an attempted surrogate arrangement, an act prohibited by Spanish law. While officials from the Extremadura High Court of Justice stated that the detainees appeared in court earlier, corrections were issued, and the plan is to proceed tomorrow morning before the district’s No. 1 Court of First Instance and Order. The delay was attributed to the absence of a suitable interpreter.