In September 2018, a mother in the Zhejiang province of China reportedly sold off her twin sons for a total of 65,000 yuan (S$12,610).

Bought phone, paid credit card debts

The single mother, known only as Ma, is in her 20s.

According to ETToday, Ma reportedly sold her sons for 45,000 yuan and 20,000 yuan a week after giving birth.

The father of the baby did not wish to take responsibility for the child and apparently "vanished".

The woman's parents also refused to offer her help because they were angry she had a child out of wedlock.

Ma then used the money to settle her credit card debts and buy a new phone. 

She apparently claimed: "I only did this because I don't have a single cent, and I'm in debt."

The money was subsequently split with the children's father, who surfaced only after finding out that she had sold the babies.

Pair spent all the money

While investigating an unrelated case, local police came to know about Ma selling her babies.

Both Ma and the boyfriend were arrested.

By that time, however, the pair had spent all the money.

The babies were also reportedly tracked down, and have since been given to Ma's parents.

Top photo via Weibo