An Indonesian court sentenced 19 people to prison terms ranging from three years and four months to seven years for their involvement in a baby-smuggling operation that trafficked infants to Singapore, according to aa.com.tr. Judge Gatot Ardian Agustriono handed down the rulings at the Bandung District Court in West Java on July 21, finding all 19 defendants guilty of human trafficking.
Indonesian Court Sentences 19 Syndicate Members for Baby Trafficking to Singapore
The network allegedly trafficked at least 34 babies between 2023 and 2025, according to straitstimes.com. Prosecutors stated that infants were sold for between 200 million rupiah and 250 million rupiah, or roughly 18,000 Singapore dollars each. The operation involved obtaining babies from areas in West Java, transporting them to Depok city, and moving them to a house in Pontianak city, West Kalimantan province, where syndicate-appointed caregivers looked after them before some infants were transported to Singapore via Jakarta.
Mastermind and Key Conspirators Receive Heavy Prison Terms
Seventy-year-old straitstimes.com—also known as Popo, Lily, or Ai—received the heaviest sentence of seven years in prison after being identified as the mastermind of the syndicate. Judge Gatot stated that Lie played an active role in recruiting individuals and controlling the network, which operated across Indonesia and internationally.
Several other core members received sentences of six years and seven months:
- Astri Fitrinika (also known as Fira or Desi), identified as a chief recruiter.
- Lai Siu Ha (also known as Eni or Aha), convicted of falsifying state documents and providing false information related to adoption requirements, birth certificates, and family cards.
- Elin Marlina (also known as Erlina) and Djaka Hamdani Hutabarat, who acted as brokers in the operation.
These sentences were lower than the 10-year prison terms demanded by prosecutors. Meanwhile, 14 other defendants who acted as caregivers or posed as the children’s biological mothers and babysitters were given prison sentences of three years and four months, which were also lower than the five-year terms sought by prosecutors.
Uncertainty Surrounds Children in Singapore and Indonesia
At least 12 babies are believed to remain in aa.com.tr following the smuggling operation, and their fate remains unclear as investigators continue to look into the matter. Adoptive parents in Singapore taking care of the children have expressed fear and anxiety while waiting to find out if they can keep their children.
David, a Singaporean adoptive parent speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that he and his wife had no idea the child they adopted from Indonesia could have been trafficked, noting they had undergone background checks and submission processes through the Singaporean government. Indonesia’s foreign affairs ministry stated that several aspects require further examination, including the children’s legal status, the identities of their biological parents, and ongoing proceedings, while reiterating a commitment to prioritize the best interests of the children.
In Indonesia, prosecutor Teti Saraswati confirmed that eight babies bought by the syndicate but not yet adopted will enter the custody of the West Java social services agency. Child protection advocates have suggested that authorities consider pressing criminal charges against the biological parents and revoking parental rights, while emphasizing that any future adoptions should follow proper, lengthy legal matching processes under social worker supervision to ensure the protection of all parties involved.
