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German couple puts baby on eBay for 1 euro

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-27 10:55

A German couple offered their eight-month-old son for sale on internet auction site eBay and said it's just a joke, but police are investigating the case, media reported Monday.

A number of people called authorities across Germany after seeing the offer on eBay that read: "Baby -- collection only. Offer my nearly new baby for sale because it cries too much. Male, 70 cm long."

The opening bid was 1 euro ($1.57). There were no bidders during the two hours before the offer was removed, police said.

Renee Beck, a police spokesman in the Bavarian town of Krumbach west of Munich, said on Saturday the 23-year-old woman told them it was only a joke.

But he said police were nevertheless continuing their investigation and the baby was put in state custody.

The mother was quoted in Bild newspaper saying: "It was only a joke. I just wanted to see if someone would make an offer. They've taken my son to hospital and I've got to take psychiatric tests next week."