A 30-year-old man was arrested in Jerusalem on Wednesday for allegedly trying to sell his 3-month-old daughter for 100,000 shekels ($26,000) to cover his gambling debts. The infant's mother, 27, was also arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting him. The father denied the allegations, saying he never intended to carry out the transaction. The investigation began last week after investigators received intelligence that a man offering to sell his baby for 100,000 shekels. Further investigation revealed that the man is a compulsive gambler who owes around $500,000 to various creditors. The police decided to apprehend the man red-handed. An undercover policeman contacted the suspect while posing as an interested buyer. The two met several times and texted each other, with the suspect assuring the officer that the baby was healthy, vaccinated and not suffering from any ailments such as Down syndrome. During the meetings, the suspect said his wife was in on the plan to sell the baby and tried to expedite the sale by saying he another couple was keen on buying her -- a claim that was later refuted. This week, when the undercover officer and the father met, they signed a contract. The officer paid a deposit of 5,000 shekels ($1,288) in exchange for the baby. Upon giving the baby to the policeman, he told her, "Meet your new daddy." The father was arrested immediately and the baby was handed over to the Jerusalem Municipality welfare services and was later placed in an emergency foster home. A physical examination of the infant revealed severe neglect. The father is now charged with human trafficking, trafficking of a minor, and child neglect.
