A case involving a gynecologist accused of trafficking newborn babies came before the Intermediate People’s Court in Weinan, Shaanxi province on Dec 30.

The court, hearing the case in public, heard allegations surrounding Zhang Shuxia.

Zhang, deputy director of a local maternal and child healthcare hospital in Fuping county, was detained on suspicion of human trafficking in August.

The detention follows accusations by a couple that their newborn baby boy was taken away after Zhang claimed the baby was suffering from syphilis and hepatitis B transmitted from the mother and would not survive, according to people.com.cn.

The baby boy was rescued by police on Aug 5, according to the report.

The county police confirmed that five cases concerning babies allegedly taken by Zhang have been recorded in police files.

Six other local health officials, including the director and deputy director of the county’s health bureau, were removed from their posts in August, it said.