TAIPEI, TAIWAN - The police Wednesday arrested three male suspects, who are believed to have imported women from Uzbekistan into the country to serve as surrogate mothers, for forging illegal documents and violating the law of artificial reproduction, local media reported.

Everyone believed to be involved in the case was taken to the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office for questioning.

According to local reporters, two of the suspects, surnamed Shao and Kuo, desired mix-race babies and used reasons such as marriage or studying as excuses to bring the four Uzbekistani women into the country since 2007.

Shao, 50, is a rich businessman who invested in a medical center situated in northern Taiwan, whereas Kuo, 47, works as a doctor in Keelung City, local reporters said.

Shao operates a factory in Uzbekistan, they added.

The third suspect was Kuo's cousin, surnamed Lien, 38, a pharmacist also working in the medical center.

Shao and Kuo successfully conceived four children with three Uzbekistani women, local media reported.

When they recently brought another Uzbekistani woman into the country, the illegal activity came to light because she was tested HIV positive, they added.

An Uzbekistani woman, married to Shao, was unaware that her husband was "importing" surrogate mothers behind her back with Kuo, reporters continued.

Police said Shao admitted that he wanted "adorable Barbie doll-looking kids" and searched for a new surrogate mother because his wife became infertile after she gave birth to her first child.

Shao said he brought her to Taiwan at a cost of US$30,000 (S$42,000) under the pretext of studying Chinese and became pregnant with Shao's sperm through artificial insemination.

Police said she was paid US$1,000 every month until August 2008, after having given birth to a baby boy who later appeared to be "adopted" by Shao.

Prosecutors told local reporters that the three suspects may be fined between NT$500,000 and NT$1 million.

Experts said the suspects' mindset is uncommon, adding that it is unhealthy to treat having children like some sort of hobby, gathering a collection of them. All three suspects were released on bail, while one of the Uzbekistani women was taken to an immigrant shelter, reporters noted.

Police also found graphic photos of men in Shao's house, creating speculations that Shao may in reality be homosexual, local reporters said.

Surrogate parenting is not allowed in Taiwan.

- The China Post/Asia News Network