Greek Police Arrest Couple Suspected Of Buying Roma Baby

Greek police arrested a couple suspected of buying an eight-month-old Roma baby, according to a statement on Friday. The couple is also accused of trying to sell the baby.

The arrest came after the couple allegedly paid a Roma woman $5,500 for the baby,

Authorities are searching for the child’s biological parents and any individuals who were involved in the transaction.

The couple, who are 53 and 48, will be charged with child abduction. In Greece, the charge can include cases in which a child is given away by their parents outside of the legal adoption process.

The case comes on the heels of the search for the biological parents of the five-year-old girl known as Maria, who has been referred to by the media as the blond angel.

She was discovered last week in a Roma encampment during a drug raid by Greek police. Maria was noticed due to her blond hair and unusually pale skin as compared to the dark hair and dark complexion of the people claiming of be her parents.

Authorities in Bulgaria are in the process of trying to match a woman to Maria through DNA testing. Preliminary charges have been filed against the woman, who has not been detained.

Maria’s case has brought worldwide attention to child trafficking and the treatment of the Gypsy community, which is marginalized throughout Europe.

The Roma couple with whom Maria was found also face child abduction charges and are jailed while they await a trial. In addition, they were accused of obtaining birth certificates for 14 children.

It is unclear whether all 14 children exist, as police in Greece are still conducting an extensive investigation in the case. Authorities think the certificates may be related to child welfare scam, as the family received almost $3,500 per month in aid.

The man and woman found with Maria changed their story several times, eventually saying they were looking after Maria and their five biological children after an arranged adoption. Meanwhile, Maria has been placed under the care of a charity while Interpol continues their investigation

Earlier in the week, Greek police arrested a third couple who were found with a baby boy that was not their own. The woman alleged they were childless and a Roma woman with five children took pity on them and gave them the child.

UPDATE: DNA tests have confirmed a Bulgarian couple as the parents of the mystery girl known as Maria.