Nineteen people have been found guilty of selling dozens of babies who were claimed to have been put up for adoption in Indonesia and Singapore
Nineteen people convicted over their roles in trafficking dozens of babies.
Eighteen women and one man were found guilty in Indonesia of selling children who were claimed to have been adopted in Indonesia and Singapore.
At least 34 babies were trafficked between 2022 and 2025 with some taken to Singapore and sold for the equivalent of thousands of pounds, Bandung City District Court in Indonesia heard.
An investigation into the selling of babies began in 2025 after the dad of a newborn child told police his son had been taken without his consent. It exposed an organised network operating across West Java.
Authorities said the babies were taken from different locations of across province, moved to Depok and then to Pontianak, where they were kept before some were flown to Singapore through Jakarta.
Jail sentences of up to seven years have now been given out to the defendants, reported CNA.
Lie Siu Luan, aged 70, also known as Lily, was found to be the mastermind behind the operation who recruited other defendants. She was jailed for seven years.
Two other defendants, Astri Fitrinika, 26, and Djaka Hamdani, 35, were both jailed for six years and seven months for their role in recruiting the babies for trafficking. Hamdani was the only male defendant in the case.
Lai Siu Ha, 60, who helped the group by forging documents to hide the babies’ roots, was given a six years and seven months sentence, while Elin Marlina was given the same jail term for her role in recruiting babies.
The other 14 defendants were given sentences of three years and four months for more minor roles in the operation which include five who falsely claimed to be the babies’ parents to potential adopters.
The court also ordered the babies who were rescued when arrests were made last year to be placed under the care of the West Java social service agency.
“As for the babies in Singapore, we couldn’t identify who the adoption agents (in Singapore) were, so we had no way of knowing what happened to (the babies). Police will keep investigating the case,” prosecutor Cucu Gantina told reporters after the trial.
A couple in Singapore who adopted one of the babies, unaware of the trafficking ring, are now unsure about what will happen to the child.
David and Ally adopted Marcus from Indonesia a few years ago. They say their main concern is for the well being of the youngster.
“My main concern has always been, and continues to be, what will happen to my son,” David told the BBC.
“Our only wish is to live a normal family life, like any other couple hoping to raise a child in a safe, stable, and loving home. We hope that this matter can now be brought to a resolution so that our son can move forward with certainty and security.
“Since the case is concluded, how can we move on and what will happen to our son? It’s been almost a year of fear and anxiety of waiting.”
