'British Man' Arrested In Bangkok Accused Of Trading In Roasted Dead Babies

Posted: Updated: 18/05/2012 13:33

UPDATE: The FCO has confirmed the arrest of a British national in Bangkok on 18 May. His name is Hok Kuen Chow.


A man, reported to be a British national of Taiwanese origin, has been arrested in Bangkok on suspicion of trading in dead babies.

According to AFP, the infants, which were found in luggage, had been roasted and covered in gold. They were destined for Taiwan.

Thai Police discovered the sickening haul, which was intended to be used in a black magic ritual, after a tip-off.

AFP reported that a 28-year-old man admitted to buying the foetuses for 200,000 baht ($6,500). He said he intended to sell them online for a large profit to disturbed individuals.

According to Colonel Wiwat Kamchamnan of the Bangkok police, the man said “he planned to sell the foetuses to clients who believe they will make them lucky and rich".

If found guilty, the accused could face up to a year in prison as well as a stiff fine.

In Thailand, the ritual of removing dead babies from the womb through surgery is known as “Kuman Thong”. The babies are then dry roasted and covered with gold leaf and kept in homes as a good luck charm.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth office told the Huffington Post UK that they are currently investigating the reports, but are not able to confirm the arrested man's name or nationality.

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UPDATE: The FCO has confirmed the arrest of a British national in Bangkok on 18 May. His name is Hok Kuen Chow. A man, reported to be a British national of Taiwanese origin, has been arrested in ...
UPDATE: The FCO has confirmed the arrest of a British national in Bangkok on 18 May. His name is Hok Kuen Chow. A man, reported to be a British national of Taiwanese origin, has been arrested in ...
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09:41 PM on 05/19/2012
Love to read these comments that are not allowed,the real views of the true British,
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gundaw
I know nuffinck!
06:02 PM on 05/19/2012
I take it all back, just read in the newspaper that they were in fact 2- 7 months old babies. Good grief! Makes you shudder, doesn't it? What's wrong with a wood- carving? Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr
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ideaville
I have sexdaily, I mean dyslexia, Danm!
05:33 PM on 05/19/2012
The "Kuman Tong" talismans were made from the foetuses of women that had died during pregnancy hundreds of years ago. The practice was outlawed many years ago and deemed to be illegal and immoral. There are still carved kuman tong today which are thought to bring good luck. Good luck charms are still highly valued in many Asian countries, but the Chinese always seem to go the extra mile. Back in the 90's in Europe there was talk of aborted foetuses being sold by the kilo to the cosmetic industry, I guess this is the seem kind of thing. As distasteful is it is to hear of this use for unwanted foetuses, this really is just a shock headline designed to cause outrage amongst those who are already convinced that all foreigners are evil. Thailand is a wonderful place that seemingly has it's share of headcases just like all other countries. They are probably equally shocked , this week, to read of someone abusing young girls in Rochdale or pouring petrol through a letterbox and killing 6 children. People in glass houses and all that.........
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gundaw
I know nuffinck!
06:03 PM on 05/19/2012
Well said!
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10:18 AM on 05/19/2012
Theres a shock another sick man who is an immigrant and holds a British passport. Seems to be a recurring theme there.
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08:45 PM on 05/19/2012
British national , Welcome to Britain 2012
07:52 AM on 05/19/2012
I'm so shocked by this story I don't even know what to say! I'm just so thankful that I live in England & that fingers crossed my children won't ever have to grow up in a part of the world where this culture exists
11:36 AM on 05/19/2012
It might be interesting to know what 'other cultures' think of British culture - abortion & euthanasia; drugs & drink; knife murders & muggings; prisons full to the brim; paedophilia & same-sex marriage; dodgy care homes & disrespect for the frail; hospital trolleys & incompetent diagnoses; corrupt politicians & newspaper proprietors; uneducated & educated youth without job prospects; loan sharks & bankrupt banks; little respect for law & order; rioting & looting; unwelcoming to outsiders & the needy poor; youth custody at an all time high; - the list goes on!
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the grange gorman
Rachel Corrie is the greatest person since Lennon
12:55 PM on 05/19/2012
You shouldnt believe everything you read in the papers , crime is down , teenagers today do more volunteering than any previous generation and gay marriage is fine and nothing to do with paedophilia.
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ideaville
I have sexdaily, I mean dyslexia, Danm!
05:42 PM on 05/19/2012
Luckily for us many countries are not so judgmental and we still get a great welcome in many parts of the World, no matter how far-flung. I was once asked by a monk in a remote part of Laos where I was from, when I told him I was from England, he said "Ah, David Beckham". As you say, many aspects of our society must seem strange to cultures where children and old people are highly respected and cared for. Sadly, as many of these countries are so poor, some unsavory practices occur from time to time, but I have only heard of memorial plaques being stolen for scrap in the UK or pensioners being beaten and raped.
02:49 PM on 05/19/2012
Every day cultures like this gain more and more of a foothold in our towns, there are many places now that are totally unrecognisable as being in any way British and they are spreading.
03:05 PM on 05/19/2012
Maybe you'd like to define what is the 'British way'. I sometimes ponder the meaning of the valuable status of 'Britishness'.

God save our Queen.
07:25 AM on 05/19/2012
This kind if person is NOT Britiish and NEVER will be.......it is an insult ......to all TRUE BRITS.......who are loyal to their adopted country, are honest, pay taxes, and works for a living.......not all angels by any means, but in the main accepted and then absorbed in to the the Great British population.
08:04 AM on 05/19/2012
he,s not even human, he should be beheaded !!!!!!
07:15 AM on 05/19/2012
unbelievable, up to a year in prison and a stiff fine???? What a joke
03:48 AM on 05/19/2012
Personally, I'll stick with my lucky underpants. Deep down I know they have no special powers, other than the ability to be worn whilst being more hole than material these days, but they do seem to work.

My wife even rescued them from the bin when I decided to throw them out a few years back.
11:43 PM on 05/18/2012
A British national of Taiwanese origin.

Yet another tag to show the world on, What is it to be British?

But it's not anything to do with race, he's "just" a British national.
10:10 PM on 05/18/2012
Not a British man at all to be British you have to be born in Britain not in Taiwan , take his passport of him .
10:41 PM on 05/18/2012
That’s no guarantee of being British nowadays.
02:37 PM on 05/19/2012
I sometimes wonder what being British guarantees any more.
10:04 PM on 05/18/2012
The law is a laughing stock .
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
cynic123
07:43 PM on 05/18/2012
This is just like the lucky rabbit foot, not very lucky for the rabbit or the babyes.
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03:43 AM on 05/19/2012
BABIES
07:39 PM on 05/18/2012
why do you remove comments??
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