Indonesia's Child Protection Commissioner states that recent illegal adoptions and baby trafficking cases, including a syndicate that trafficked 28 babies to Singapore, are just the 'tip of the iceberg'. Poverty is identified as a root cause, with vulnerable mothers selling newborns due to financial hardship.
The 70-year-old leader of an Indonesian baby-trafficking ring, Lie Siu Luan, was sentenced to seven years in prison for exploiting at least 12 babies sent to Singapore. Her sentence was less than the 10 years prosecutors sought.
A Singaporean couple, David and Ally, face the agonizing possibility of losing their adopted son, Marcus, who is believed to have been trafficked from Indonesia. At least 20 babies are alleged to have been illegally bought in Indonesia for adoption in Singapore, with nearly two dozen people on trial in West Java. The case highlights child trafficking issues in Indonesia and raises questions about Singapore's vetting processes.
