Prosecutors in West Java, Indonesia, allege a syndicate trafficked at least 34 babies between 2023 and 2025. Ten of these infants were reportedly sold in Singapore for as much as S$18,000 (US$14,000) each, with transactions facilitated by forged birth certificates and fake identities.
Court documents indicate that Singaporean adoption papers were prepared using fabricated documents for at least 10 babies. The syndicate allegedly recruited mothers via social media and online adoption groups, paying them between US$530 and US$880. A Singaporean individual, identified only as Petter, is alleged to have requested the babies and instructed on preparing documentation for adoption under Singapore's Adoption of Children Act.
Nineteen defendants, primarily women, face charges including human trafficking, with potential sentences of up to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors stated that babies not sold to Singapore were sold to Indonesian parents or sent to orphanages. The case, which began in 2023, saw arrests across Bandung, Jakarta, and Pontianak. Authorities are still searching for three alleged members of the syndicate, while two others are under police investigation.
Singaporean officials are working with Indonesian authorities to clarify the facts and review adoption processes. Experts point to poverty, social stigma, and the misuse of social media as key factors enabling such trafficking operations. The trial is set to hear witness testimonies starting April 14.