A Dutch court will be deciding the fate of a baby which was sold by its Belgium parents through the internet to a Dutch couple for thousands of euros. The case was brought by the Dutch Child Protection Council, which says the Dutch couple violated the adoption rules.

The case of the baby - known only as Baby J, was brought to light by the Dutch TV programme Netwerk in a recent broadcast. It said the baby had been born in Belgium's northern city of Ghent in the summer. The Belgian couple, who already had a child, then decided to sell the baby because they could not afford to raise two children.

The Dutch couple denies buying the baby, saying on Dutch TV that they only paid the pregnancy costs incurred by the parents.

The council said in a statement regarding the identity of the baby "Clarity over your family history is of fundamental importance for a child growing up. Obscuring your true identity is harmful".

Meanwhile, a lawyer for the Belgian couple told the Belgium's VTM television that they felt bad about their decision and now wanted their baby back.