Nineteen individuals have been convicted for their involvement in the trafficking of numerous infants in a recent court ruling in Indonesia. The group, comprising eighteen women and one man, was found guilty of selling children under the guise of adoption in Indonesia and Singapore.
According to reports from the Bandung City District Court, approximately 34 babies were trafficked between 2022 and 2025, with some being transported to Singapore and sold for significant sums of money. The investigation into this illegal operation was initiated in 2025 after a father reported that his newborn had been taken without consent, leading to the uncovering of a well-organized network spanning West Java.
Authorities revealed that the infants were sourced from various locations within the province, then transferred to Depok and later to Pontianak before being flown to Singapore via Jakarta. The convicted defendants have now been handed jail terms of up to seven years, as per CNA reports.
The mastermind behind the operation, Lie Siu Luan, also known as Lily, was sentenced to seven years in prison for orchestrating the trafficking scheme and recruiting accomplices. Two other defendants, Astri Fitrinika and Djaka Hamdani, received six years and seven months each for their involvement in the recruitment process, with Hamdani being the sole male defendant in the case.
Lai Siu Ha, who assisted the group by falsifying documents to conceal the babies’ origins, and Elin Marlina, who played a role in recruiting infants, were both sentenced to six years and seven months in jail. The remaining 14 defendants received sentences of three years and four months for their minor roles, including five individuals who falsely posed as the babies’ parents to potential adopters.
Following the arrests made last year, the court ordered the rescued babies to be placed under the care of the West Java social service agency. Investigations are ongoing to determine the fate of the infants in Singapore, as the adoption agents there remain unidentified.
In a concerning development, a couple in Singapore, David and Ally, who unknowingly adopted one of the trafficked babies, are now uncertain about the child’s future. David expressed his apprehension about the situation, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the well-being and stability of their adopted son.
David’s plea for closure and resolution in the case reflects the couple’s desire to provide a safe and loving environment for their son, free from the shadows of the trafficking scandal. Their hope is to move forward with certainty and security, putting an end to the anxiety and uncertainty that has plagued them over the past year.
