Nineteen individuals have been convicted for their involvement in the trafficking of numerous infants. In Indonesia, eighteen women and one man were found guilty of selling children under the guise of adoption in both Indonesia and Singapore.
Between 2022 and 2025, at least 34 babies were trafficked, with some being transported to Singapore and sold for substantial sums of money. The Bandung City District Court in Indonesia disclosed these details.
The investigation into the baby trafficking ring commenced in 2025 after a father reported that his newborn child had been taken without his consent. This led to the discovery of an organized network spanning across West Java.
Authorities revealed that the babies were sourced from various locations within the province, then relocated to Depok and subsequently to Pontianak before some were flown to Singapore via Jakarta.
The defendants have now been handed jail terms of up to seven years, as reported by CNA. The mastermind behind the operation, Lie Siu Luan, also known as Lily, was sentenced to seven years in prison for orchestrating the scheme and recruiting other defendants.
Astri Fitrinika, 26, and Djaka Hamdani, 35, received jail terms of six years and seven months for their involvement in recruiting babies for trafficking, with Hamdani being the sole male defendant in the case.
Lai Siu Ha, 60, who aided the group by forging documents to conceal the babies’ origins, was sentenced to six years and seven months, along with Elin Marlina, who received the same jail term for her role in recruiting infants.
The remaining 14 defendants were given sentences ranging from three years to four months for lesser roles in the operation, including five individuals who falsely posed as the babies’ parents to potential adopters.
Following the arrests made last year, the court ordered that the rescued babies be placed under the care of the West Java social service agency. Authorities expressed difficulty in identifying the adoption agents in Singapore, leaving the fate of those babies uncertain.
In Singapore, a couple named David and Ally adopted Marcus from Indonesia a few years ago, unaware of the trafficking ring. They are now concerned about the well-being of their child and seek closure on the matter.
David expressed his apprehension, stating, “Our only wish is to lead a normal family life, like any other couple raising a child in a safe, stable, and loving environment. We hope for resolution so that our son can move forward with certainty and security.”
With the conclusion of the case, the couple remains anxious about the future and the well-being of their son, enduring nearly a year of fear and uncertainty.