Couple deny abandoning Down’s Syndrome baby

An Australian couple has hit out at allegations that they abandoned one of their twins born to a surrogate in Thailand.

The baby boy, named Gammy, and his sister were born two months prematurely, and he has Down's Syndrome as well as a congenital heart condition.

The couple has issued a statement through a friend to deny they rejected the baby and chose to take his healthy sister home.

They allege their surrogacy agreement became void after the babies were born at a different hospital to the one they had chosen.

The statement also said they are traumatised and the couple claim they were told baby Gammy would not survive.

They also said their legal status put a question mark over whether they would be able to take his sister home.

The Thai surrogate mother earlier said she would be happy to have the infant’s healthy twin returned to her.

She is especially concerned for the baby girl’s welfare because of reports that the father is a convicted sex offender.

Pattaramon Chanbua has been bringing up baby Gammy as her own since he was born in December.

The 21-year-old said the twins’ father rejected Gammy, while taking his healthy sister home to Western Australia state.

Australia’s Nine Network television has reported that the father is a convicted paedophile.

A police officer said that the father is a convicted sex offender.