Trial Commences for Baby Trafficking in Indonesia

In a significant baby trafficking trial in Bandung, West Java, 19 people are on trial for their involvement in a syndicate accused of trafficking at least 34 infants, including 10 sent to Singapore at prices reaching S$18,000 each. The group, made up of 18 women and one man, is facing severe charges under Indonesia’s anti-human trafficking statutes.

As outlined by prosecutors in the Bandung District Court, this trafficking ring operated between 2023 and 2025. The operation reportedly began when a Singaporean approached one of the suspects, Lie Siu Luan, also known as Lily, seeking help to acquire babies for illegal adoption. The syndicate allegedly created forged documents—birth certificates and ID cards—to facilitate these unlawful transfers.

Investigations revealed that the accused used social media platforms and online adoption forums to recruit vulnerable parents. In certain cases, these parents received payments ranging from nine million to 15 million rupiah in exchange for their newborns. Prosecutors noted that the syndicate utilized counterfeit identities and arranged fake guardians to mislead authorities as well as potential adoptive families.

Authorities disclosed that at least 10 infants were transported to Singapore by members of the group masquerading as their parents or guardians. The rest of the babies were either sold within Indonesia or placed in orphanages when buyers could not be found. If found guilty, the defendants face prison sentences of three to 15 years along with substantial fines. This case has garnered significant attention, raising alarm over the issues of poverty, lack of awareness regarding legal adoption practices, and the escalating use of social media in facilitating cross-border trafficking.