Beijing, Dec 30 (IANS): A case of a baby stealing surgeon accused of trafficking seven babies went before a court in China's Shaanxi province Monday.

Zhang Shuxia, a doctor with Fuping County Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, is accused of selling seven babies to human traffickers after persuading their parents to give up their "sick" newborns.

A mother suspected July 20 that her baby had been abducted and reported the incident to police. Zhang is accused of falsely claiming that the woman's child had a congenital disease, according to Weinan Intermediate People's Court. The baby was found in good condition in neighbouring Henan province Aug 5.

Further, a pair of twin baby girls were also rescued from neighbouring Shanxi province and Shandong province in east China Aug 10 after their mother Wang, complained to the police in Fuping.

At least nine suspects were detained in August, including Zhang. The hospital's president, Wang Li, two other senior hospital managers, and three county officials were dismissed over the matter.

Police have since received more reports and investigated six cases which may have involved Zhang.