A severely disabled girl, sold by her father at the age of nine, was mutilated by the man who bought her so she could work more effectively as a beggar.

The tragic life of Gong Xuanxuan, now 12, came to light yesterday when police arrested San Ya, the man suspected of abusing her.

Guangzhou police said San, a criminal suspected of children trafficking and maltreatment, was nabbed in eastern China's Anhui Province and escorted back to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province.

Gong told police that San had forced her to beg on the streets for more than two years.

He repeatedly cut her legs, keeping them festering and bleeding to make her more effective as a beggar.

"Such appearance makes it easier to ask for money," the little girl said.

A month ago, San took her from her native Anhui Province to Guangzhou, where he made her beg on a flyover in Baiyun District from 4 am to 6 pm.

On January 6, a man in Guangzhou called a local newspaper, saying he had saved a girl beggar who was covered all over with cuts and bruises at the flyover.

Gong told the paper she suffered from severe birth defects in both of her legs. When she was nine, her mother died. Soon after, her father sold her to San and her nightmare began.

Her misery finally ended when warm-hearted locals in Guangzhou sent her to hospital and looked after her in turns.

Doctors in the Guangzhou No. 1 People's Hospital said the girl suffered long-term effects from marrow disease and the consequences would be disastrous if she did not receive prompt medical treatment.

"Her lower body is infected and she can no longer walk," said a doctor surnamed Liu, adding that the total medical expenses would be up to 100,000 yuan (US$12,048).

Shocked by Gong's experience, local police went to a dilapidated house where Gong said she had lived, rescuing another four child beggars and arresting two suspects.

San fled during the police action, but was finally caught yesterday.

"It marks a major breakthrough of the case to catch San," said a police official from Guangzhou Public Security Bureau.

Police would not say when they expect the case to be tried or what sentence could be passed on San.

But news of the arrest has led to public demands for proper arrangements for child beggars.

Some medical workers suggested special shelter centers should be set up to provide meals, accommodation, health checks and temporary education. In addition, the centers would be required to find the families of the street children and send them home.

The Chinese Children Hope & Relief Foundation, a Beijing-based organization, has offered money and technical help for Gong.

"We will take care of her until she finds a warm and safe family," a spokesperson said.

(eastday.com February 14, 2004)