Public outrage after Chinese woman gets just 3 years jail for abducting baby 35 years ago

A woman in China was sentenced to three years in prison for abducting a 10-month-old baby boy 35 years ago from the family who employed her as their maid.The woman, identified by her surname Wang, confessed in court that she took the boy after being diagnosed with infertility, driven by her desire to become a mother, as reported by the Beijing-news" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="25092" data-entity-type="organization">Beijing News.In early 1990, Wang, a 24-year-old migrant worker in Beijing, was hired by the Sun family to care for their infant.On March 7, 1990, she vanished with the baby, prompting the parents to embark on a long and arduous journey to find their son.Over the past three decades, the parents travelled throughout China whenever they received a potential lead regarding their son’s whereabouts.However, due to the technological limitations of past decades, both law enforcement and the Sun couple were unsuccessful in locating the boy.A young Asian family with their baby celebrating Chinese New Year together. Photo: ShutterstockDuring this time, Wang raised the boy in a province that remained undisclosed in court. Later identified as Xiao Yong (nickname), the boy had always believed Wang was his biological mother until last year, when police revealed that he was the missing child of a couple from Beijing.Authorities verified his identity using the national database and DNA evidence.“Your parents have been tirelessly searching for you over the past 35 years. They have never given up hope or forgotten you,” a police officer told Xiao Yong.Now around 35 or 36 years old, Xiao Yong asked Wang about his past, to which she falsely claimed that she found him abandoned on the road by his parents.Further ReadingThe police facilitated a reunion between Xiao Yong and his biological parents last year, although his future plans were not mentioned in the report.Wang was charged with child abduction. On July 29, a court in Beijing sentenced her to three years in prison.The court ruled that Wang committed the crime of child abduction rather than child trafficking, as she did not profit from selling the baby.According to Chinese law, individuals who abduct and traffic children face a minimum of five years in prison, with the most severe cases leading to the death penalty.However, offenders like Wang, who separated a child from their biological family without selling them, are charged with child abduction, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.In March 1990, Wang, a 24-year-old migrant worker newly employed by the Sun family, vanished with their infant son, triggering a desperate search by the parents. Photo: ShutterstockThe case has sparked intense discussions on Chinese social media platforms, with many expressing that Wang’s punishment is excessively lenient.“This maid will serve only three years for her crime, while her employers endured the anguish of separation from their child for over 30 years. I am appalled by this verdict. She deserves a life sentence. Only a severe penalty can deter anyone with similar criminal intentions,” one online observer commented.“Xiao Yong’s life has been irrevocably altered. He went from being a young master in the capital to a manual labourer outside Beijing,” remarked another.