Woman suspected of selling a baby arrested in North Ossetia

Today, the Lenin Court of Vladikavkaz has made a decision to put Valentina Tedeeva, the head of the maternity ward of the Republic's Clinical Hospital (RCH), suspected of selling a newborn, into custody, said Eduard Gusov, Senior Assistant to the Head of the Investigatory Department of the Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) for North Ossetia.

Tedeeva was detained at handing over 500,000 roubles for the baby, which was born by a 15-year-old mother, who refused from the baby. On April 9, the court extended Tedeeva's detention up to 72 hours. At night on April 10, the suspect was hospitalized with a hypertensive crisis.

Valentina Tedeeva is now in hospital under guard, but as soon as she gets better, she will be transported to the SIZO (pre-trial prison), Eduard Gusov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"At present, the issue is addressed of presenting charges to the suspect. During the investigation, a legal assessment will be given to the actions of the officials who had contributed to the commission of the crime, as well as of the baby's mother," Mr Gusov has added.

As stated by the suspect's sister Zalina, Valentina Tedeeva denies any wrongdoing and believes that an error occurred at her detention.