British man arrested with bodies of six unborn babies

Chow Hok Kuen, a Briton has been arrested after the bodies of six unborn babies - thought to have been used in a black magic ritual - were found in a hotel room in Thailand.

Kuen is being held by police for possession of human remains after the roasted foetuses were discovered stuffed into travel bags in Bangkok's Chinatown.

Detectives believe the 28-year-old was trying to smuggle the corpses to Taiwan.

Wiwat Kumchumnan, of the Thai police's children and women protection unit, said: "The bodies are of children between the ages of two and seven months.

"Some were found covered in gold leaf."

Police had received a tip-off that infant corpses were being offered to wealthy clients through a website advertising black magic services.

The foetuses were bought for the equivalent of £4,000 and could have been sold for six times that amount in Taiwan.

Kuen, a British citizen born in Hong Kong of Taiwanese parents, was staying at a hotel in Khao San Road, Bangkok's backpacker area, but the bodies were found in a separate hotel.

Black magic rituals are still practised in Thailand, where street-side fortune tellers offer ceremonies to reverse bad luck.

Kuen faces one year in prison and a fine of £40 if he is found guilty.