XI'AN: The manager of a public orphanage is under investigation over claims
he demanded charges for babies being adopted and pocketed some of the cash
himself.
Earlier this month, local media in Ankang, a southern city of Northwest
China's Shaanxi Province, received an e-mail that claimed Wang Zhou, the head of
Ankang Child Welfare Home, forced people looking to adopt to hand over hefty
donations.
"We received a report on the case and we have established an investigating
group that is working on it," said Mu Yanling, deputy director of Ankang
Municipal Welfare Administration Bureau.
According to the e-mail, Du Huibin, manager of Mengyu Consultant Service
Centre in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, paid 16,000 yuan (US$2,000) in December
last year to Wang for a one-month-old baby, whom the child welfare home had just
received.
The Adoption Law of the People's Republic of China, however, states babies
can only be adopted after being at orphanages for at least four months.
Another e-mail said Du later tried to adopt another baby from the home for
slightly less money. It has been alleged he offered a lower sum after claiming
the home only received 9,000 yuan (US$1,120) from the total payment made to Wang
for the first baby.
Wang has denied the allegations levelled at him.
"I did not embezzle the money, and people who adopt children from the home
are only encouraged to donate money," he said.
According to Mu Yanling, donations are expected to be given when people adopt
orphans from the welfare home to cover the operating costs of the site. He added
the amount is decided according to the financial status of the adopting
families.
Mu said the bureau had had several talks with Wang and requested him to give
detailed information about the case.
"The law will have the final say if any illegal act is found in this case,"
he said.
(China Daily 04/19/2006 page3)