The OC Register newspaper is reporting that Christine and Sol Moghadam of Irvine, California, have been cleared of all child trafficking charges and reunited with their two biological children and four adopted children from Ghana. The family is awaiting US visas for the four new family members; the Moghadams applied for the visas prior to their arrest.
Reporter Thomas Brian Martinez writes:
The adoption was properly conducted and all of the paperwork was in place, according to Kyle Tresch, a Dillon International vice president.
"This is a situation that has never happened in the 40-year history of our agency," he said.
Ghanian authorities said they received an anonymous tip that the couple was engaging in child trafficking, and the fact that they had two "white" children and four "black" children added to the suspicion.
The Moghadams had documents from the court that finalized the adoptions, but Ghanian police had to confirm their authenticity because other people have used forged documents to take children from the country, said Frank Kwofie, director of operations for the police's criminal investigations department. They were not charged with a crime.
Authorities also needed to confirm that the adoption was properly granted by the court and that the court had proper jurisdiction, said Comfort Miah, an official with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghanaian police.
The Moghadams adopted the children from the city of Kumasi, 160 miles northwest of Accra.
I am very glad that this was corrected because this could have been devastating for that family. I understand why Ghanian authorities took the measures they did because child trafficking is becoming an epidemic around the world. It is good that this happened though because it is showing that other countries are trying to get involved and end this terrible practice. I am glad things worked out in the end.
Posted by: Mike Cornelia | September 28, 2012 at 11:16 AM
great information and inspiration, Also like to admire the time and effort you put into your blog.nice written and almost all significant information. I would like to see more posts like this.thanks
Posted by: Online Diploma | November 19, 2012 at 11:25 PM
Congratulations to the couple for succeeding or clearing their names on child trafficking.
Posted by: Meidinger Culbertson | March 20, 2013 at 07:16 PM