The latest development in a Thai surrogacy scandal involving a Japanese national has led investigators to Cambodia, where three babies – believed linked to the businessman – were found, an investigation by the Thai Ministry of Justice’s Department of Special Investigations has found.

The department yesterday confirmed a preliminary investigation, first revealed in the Bangkok Post, but declined to provide further comment.

“There are no results to announce soon,” the department said via email.

Mitsukoki Shigeta has previously been alleged to have fathered 13 surrogate babies via women in Thailand, according to the newspaper, which also said it’s believed he left these new three with caregivers in Cambodia.

The Special Investigations Department declined to say how the babies were established to be in the Kingdom and what will happen to them now.

The 13 children involved in the previous allegations have been in the care of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry’s child protection centre in Nonthaburi.

Officials at the Cambodian National Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Department said they were unaware of the case.