Police Develop Case of Child Selling to Singapore: Hunt for Syndicate, Parents Who Sold-Bought

Thirteen suspects in the child trafficking case to Singapore have been arrested. Some were hysterical when they were shown to the public.

So far, it has been revealed that 25 babies have become victims, six of whom were rescued. The perpetrators have been acting since 2023.

Police are currently pursuing another syndicate involved, including the parents of the child seller and the buyer. Police are further investigating this case.

Here is the latest news regarding the case:

Only sold to Singapore

Hendra Rochmawan, Head of Public Relations of West Java Police, said that the babies bought while still in the womb for Rp 11-16 million were given fake documents and fake parents.

The child was then sold to Singapore under the guise of adoption.

"Taken to Singapore. When they went to Singapore, the fake parents also went there, as if they were the real parents of the baby, stating that because of economic conditions that did not allow for proper care, they would sell the baby for adoption by an adopter there," said Hendra during a press conference at Polda Jabar on Thursday (17/7).

Besides going to Singapore, there is one baby sold through the adoption modus to Jakarta.

"One (infant) in Jakarta who was revealed," he said.

Hiring a Nanny Before Selling

This network hires caregivers to take care of the babies after they are taken from their biological parents. The baby caregivers are paid by the suspect Lie Siu Luan, also known as Lily, Popo, or Ai. She is the mastermind of this syndicate.

"Those caregivers received a payment of Rp 2,500,000 and Rp 1 million for the child's expenses," said Hendra.

In this case, there are seven people responsible for taking care of the baby, namely Yenni (42 years old), Djap Fie Khim (52 years old), Anyet (26 years old), Fie Si An (46 years old), Devi Wulandari (26 years old), Anisah (31 years old), and A Ki Au (58 years old).

They take care of the babies for two to three months after they are born by their parents.

Sindikat Mode Find Baby

One of the other suspects in this case is AF, who acted as a baby recruiter or the person who finds parents willing to have their child adopted. The search was done through social media.

Hendra Rochmawan said in one of the cases, AF admitted that he would take care of the child himself. He wanted to adopt because he had not been blessed with a child since marriage.

"AF suspect admitted that he wanted to adopt the baby for himself, because he had been married for a long time and had not been blessed with children. This is his modus operandi," said Hendra.

This case was uncovered after one of the baby's parents, who had been recruited by AF, reported to the police. AF knew the baby's parents through Facebook. There, the baby's mother was looking for someone to adopt her baby.

The conversation on Facebook continued to WhatsApp. Eventually, they met in person.

In that meeting, they discussed the adoption process and compensation for the parents. AF promised Rp 10 million to the baby's parents and would cover the delivery costs.

"Accused gave Rp 600,000 as transportation fee to the midwife when going into labor. Then the rest would be given the next day, along with the accused's identity card and family card. The accused also took the victim's child, but after several days, the accused did not come," said Hendra.

The baby's parents then reported the case to the police, suspecting kidnapping. After investigation, it turned out that AF was part of a baby trafficking syndicate.

The baby reported by the parents was also handed over to a person with the initials C for Rp 11 million. From this amount, AF received Rp 2,290,000. The remaining amount was divided among the other suspects involved in the syndicate.

Perpetrators, Syndicates and Recruiters Still at Large

Besides the 13 people who have been detained, there are three other people still being searched for. "There are three suspects who are currently being wanted by us, Ms. P, Ms. YN, and Ms. W," said Hendra.

The three suspects who are still at large have their respective roles: YN, who creates fake documents for the babies, W, the intermediary and temporary shelter, and P, also known as L, an Indonesian citizen residing abroad, who is the financier of the syndicate and the head of the agency.

"Okay, I'll add that the DPO we mentioned earlier acted as an agency in Indonesia, and also as a document maker, creating fake identities to go to Singapore, and another one as a receiver," said Hendra.

Foster Parents Sought

General Police Director of West Java Province, Comrade Surawan, said that they are currently searching for the whereabouts of the adoptive parents who adopted the babies who were victims of human trafficking.

"Things in Singapore are being checked, we are investigating, including adopters (adopter) there," said Surawan at the same occasion.

"We haven't received the data yet, that's why we are soon going to look for adopters there," he added.

To further investigate this, the police will conduct an inquiry in Pontianak, which is the location where the babies were hidden. The data of these babies are entered into the Family Card (KK) and recognized as biological children of the syndicate. These fake parents have now been detained and are considered suspects.

"To obtain the documents that we have not yet received. Especially the adopter's documents," he said.

In addition, the traces of the perpetrators when delivering the baby to Singapore and meeting the adoptive parents will also be checked.

"So later we will definitely know, which baby is departing, who is accompanying, when it is being taken, then who is the adopter there, later we will investigate further," said Surawan.

"Let's match them, check one by one later, when he leaves the country, when he goes out, with whom, later we will also check the manifest and everything else, indeed this case still needs a long time for us to fully uncover," he added.

Police Search for Parents Who Sell Their Child

Surawan said their party is still investigating the biological parents of the babies who became victims of human trafficking to Singapore. These parents may be suspects because they sold their babies to syndicates.

"Parents of this baby may also become suspects. Why? They are involved in a human trafficking syndicate," said Surawan.

One of the biological parents of the baby, DH, a resident of Bandung Regency, has been questioned. DH previously reported to the police that his child was "kidnapped."

According to DH's statement, it was found that the reason he sold his child was due to economic factors.

"No, this is still our task, because we have only obtained one parent so far, the statement from the reporter, who is also the one reporting, that is an economic motive," he said.

List of Suspects and Their Roles

1. Siu Ha (S) made fake documents such as family registration and passport for adoption purposes to Singapore.

2. Maryani (M), the one who takes care of the babies after they are adopted from their biological parents.

3. Yenti (Y), the caregiver of infants after they are adopted from their biological parents.

4. Yenni (YN), a baby carrier and caregiver for infants up to 2-3 months old.

5. Djap Fie Kim (DFK), baby caregiver and transporter to Singapore.

6. Anyet (A), baby caregiver and escort to Singapore.

7. Fie San (FS), baby caregiver and escort to Singapore.

8. Devi Wulandari (DW), baby caregiver and facilitator to Singapore.

9. Anisah (A), baby caregiver, nanny, and also a fake parent.

10. A Kiau (AK), baby carrier from Jakarta to Kalimantan, then from Kalimantan to Singapore, and a baby caregiver.

11. Astri Fitrinika (AF), recruiter 25 babies.

12. Daka Hamdani (DH), husband of Astri, who served as the baby recruiter.

13. Elin Marlina (EM), baby recruiter.