DNA tests have proven nine babies found at a condominium in Bangkok last week have the same father, but authorities have yet to prove a Japanese businessman is that father, senior Thai police doctor Jongjate Aojanepong said Tuesday.
He said at a press conference that according to birth certificates found by investigators, the businessman has been named as the father of 15 babies.
Nine of the 15 are now under guardianship at Pakkred Babies' Home in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi and four children were discovered leaving Thailand for Cambodia, immigration officials said.
Nine babies found in a Bangkok condominium last week have been determined to have the same father, according to DNA tests. Authorities are still trying to determine if that father is Japanese national Mitsutoki Shigeta, who fled Thailand last week. (TV pool photo)
A set of twins is receiving treatment at a hospital in Bangkok. Police plan to test the DNA of the twins when they recover from an unspecified illness.
The veteran police physician said it appeared the children were conceived from eggs from "various races" of women. The doctor said it has not been determined if the children were part of a human-trafficking scheme.
Mitsutoki Shigeta, the man believed to have fathered the 13 surrogate children, left on a flight to Macau last week. He was accompanied by a Japanese woman also sought by police, Yuka Unno, 27.
Security camera footage from the Suvarnabhumi airport immigration office showed the Japanese pair leaving.
Mr Shigeta, a 24-year-old Japanese national, fled the country after a police raid on his rented condominium at The Niche ID Lat Phrao on Tuesday uncovered nine surrogate babies and a pregnant woman.
Ms Unno is believed to have been staying in the same apartment and is wanted by police for questioning as part of a human-trafficking investigation.
Ratthaprathan Tulathorn, a lawyer for Mr Shigeta, said earlier that his client had fathered the babies and all would be taken care of.
It was also revealed three other surrogate children had been taken out of Thailand by Mr Shigeta, whose name reportedly appeared on their birth certificates. Police believe Ms Unno may have helped him get the babies out of the country.
Deputy National Police Chief Ake Angsananon said officials have questioned seven people, including nannies, surrogate mothers and a lawyer about the discovery, but no charges have been filed against anyone.
"The most important thing is to provide safety to 15 babies, which number may increase in the future. The second most important matter is to apply existing legal measures in a bid to prevent misconduct in the future," Mr Ake said.
He added the Thai police are seeking help from Japanese, Cambodian and Indian authorities in their investigation.