A woman of Sabanalarga, Atlantico department, was denounced Monday for
allegedly selling her baby boy for 1 million pesos, US$500.
The mother of five children, identified as Adela Martinez, denied having sold her son but said she gave him away for free because she cannot afford another child.
The Police however believe that Adela Martinez sold her son to a wealthy family in Barranquilla. It is still unclear how much money the mother received, either one million pesos or six million, police commander Henry Rubio told Caracol.
In Colombia it is illegal to sell or give away children. Anyone who does so, faces prison, Joaquin Orozco of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) in Sabanalarga said.
The baby boy is currently in a foster home of the Family Welfare.