Police said 11 domestic workers were arrested in Hong Kong for suspected “disruption of children” and illegal abortion.
The women were rounded up in their 30s and 40s and found a stillbirth at her employer’s home, which was later confirmed to be at least 28 weeks old.
Police also found that they suspected it was abortion pills – eventually brought them to 10 other women.
Five people have since been charged, while five people have been released on bail, and one of them has been remanded in custody for further investigation. If convicted of the worst charges, children vandalize, they could face life imprisonment.
The investigation began in June when medical staff were called to help a 39-year-old domestic worker who collapsed at his employer’s home.
Police said medical staff then found the fetus hidden in the laundry basket in her room and was not alive.
When questioned, the woman admitted to buying medicine from a friend – another friend who worked in a foreign family.
She was arrested in July, and police eventually carried out a series of attacks between July 29 and August 8, during which eight other domestic workers were detained.
This doesn’t seem to be a crime group, said Lam Ho-Yin, an inspector of the Yuen Long District Crime Squad. Instead, preliminary findings showed that “32-year-old foreign domestic helpers… brought them back to another country” and were allegedly sold.
It is not clear that every woman (whose nationality police will not disclose) is charged.
Abortion is legal in Hong Kong, but only under strict conditions – continuing to get pregnant within 24 weeks can harm the mother’s life, or if health is threatened, or in serious fetal abnormalities. Abortion can only be performed within 24 weeks if the mother’s life is at risk.
People who have been found guilty of miscarriage supply or use of drugs for miscarriage may face up to seven years in prison.
On Friday, police asked employers to have their domestic workers talk to medical professionals so they can get pregnant.
According to government statistics, Hong Kong has about 368,000 foreign domestic workers. Most – about 55% – are from the Philippines, while 42% are from Indonesia.
Most people receive a fixed monthly minimum wage of HK$4,990 (US$636; £473).
