Wife accused of impregnating maid with husband's sperm

Anna is being sued by her husband Fouad Mohammed who says she deliberately used his sperm without his consent. Photo / Thinkstock

A Kiwi woman accused of using her Egyptian husband's sperm to impregnate their maid is facing legal action, an Arab news organisation reports.

According to gulfnews.com, the woman - known only as Anna - is being sued by her husband Fouad Mohammed who says she deliberately used his sperm without his consent.

Anna, understood to be aged in her 40s, married Mr Fouad, 33, in Auckland five years ago. The pair met in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and tied the knot after a brief courtship, gulfnews.com reported.

Mr Fouad told the organisation they chose to find a surrogate mother after Anna had problems getting pregnant.

In 2010, a full-time Filipino maid Elvie Ibanez moved into the couple's Al Ain home.

Mr Fouad has alleged that during this time, his sperm was used without permission to impregnate Ms Ibanez.

He had given it to his wife, who worked at a local hospital, for routine tests, gulfnews.com stated.

Surrogacy was illegal in the UAE, and it was important to find someone from outside the country, he said.

Now, Mr Fouad and Anna have a 3-year-old baby girl, named Salwa - and neither of her parents are looking after her. Mr Fouad said Salwa was living with a family in Egypt and she had an Egyptian passport. His wife refused to adopt her and he was unable to raise the child alone, he told gulfnews.com.

Ms Ibanez, who gave birth to Salwa on Christmas Day 2010, was paid about $4900 for the pregnancy, and has since returned to her home country, the report said.

Gulfnews.com also reported a member of the New Zealand consulate in Dubai had signed as a witness to a surrogacy agreement last January.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) have confirmed the New Zealand consulate in Dubai was aware of Anna's case - however MFAT stated it had not been involved in any surrogacy agreement.

While they could state what "the veracity of the claims being made'' were, the consulate had provided notarial services as part of a Consent for Adoption process, a spokesman said.

"It is not the function of New Zealand Embassies or Consulates to authorise surrogacy agreements.

"New Zealand Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates undertake a range of notarial work, including the witnessing of signatures on Consent for Adoption papers.''

The Ministry were unable to release any more information for privacy reasons, the spokesman said.