It is believed that between 2001 and 2005 at least 22 babies were bought by couples, who were unable to adopt under the rules of French law and who paid up to $10,000 (£5,000) for each child. 38 of these would-be parents who bought babies received sentences ranging from one year’s imprisonment to six-month suspended sentences.
The original mothers are thought to have been Bulgarian prostitutes and were brought to France to give birth, lured by promises of large amounts of money.
After they had handed over their babies they were only given a small part of the agreed fee and were forced to work as prostitutes or become beggars, according to reports.
The babies had been taken into care when the case first started although the Roma parents were not accused of mistreating the infants in any way.
In spite of the trail and the sentences the Roma families were given, many are now being permitted to keep the babies.
