Costa del Sol couple in their 70s 'bought baby for €100,000'

They were found out when, nearly eight months after purchasing the newborn from his 30-year-old Russian mother, an hereditary illness was detected and his biological parents needed to be traced.

The couple were reportedly evasive and made 'various excuses' as to why the mother could not attend the hospital for tests.

It turned out the mother had travelled to Spain from Russia a month before the birth, and had the baby at a private clinic in the province of Málaga, recorded his birth at the Civil Registrar's office along with the name of the alleged father, and then left the country, returning home to Russia.

The father registered was the husband of the arrested couple, but investigations showed he had no passport and had never travelled to Russia, showing he could not possibly be the baby's biological parent.

Police turned up at one of the couple's properties – a 25-square-metre garage – which they were living in with the baby, and which was described as 'insalubrious' and 'not in conditions for caring for an infant'.

It was then that the pensioners confessed they had bought the baby so they would have 'someone to inherit their assets when they go'.

They pointed the finger at the mother and at a Russian solicitor living on the Costa del Sol.

The baby has now been taken into care.