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Indonesia charges 19 in baby trafficking ring | The Straits Times
Indonesia charges 19 in baby trafficking ring | The Straits Times
Indonesia charges 19 over alleged baby trafficking ring that sent infants to Singapore
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Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja
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Arlina Arshad
Published
Apr 07, 2026, 01:25 PM
Updated
Apr 07, 2026, 10:51 PM
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Summarise
Nineteen individuals, mostly women, face human trafficking charges for allegedly sending Indonesian infants abroad, including to Singapore, in a large-scale operation.
Lily, the suspected ringleader, faces charges including human trafficking, potentially carrying a 15-year sentence and a 5 billion rupiah fine.
The syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable pregnant women and falsified documents to traffic babies, with "good-looking" ones sent to Singapore for over S$20,000.
AI generated
BANDUNG, West Java
–
Indonesian prosecutors on April 7 charged 19 people accused of sending infants to cities across the country and overseas, including to Singapore, in what the authorities described as one of
Indonesia’s largest trafficking cases in recent years
.
Earlier, the defendants – 18 of them women – filed into Indonesia’s Bandung District…
Indonesia baby trafficking trial begins for 19 people accused of ...
Indonesia baby trafficking trial begins for 19 people accused of ...
Trushali
7 April 2026
Indonesia baby trafficking trial begins for 19 people accused of sending at least 10 newborns to Singapore – CNA
Nivell Rayda
07 Apr 2026 04:09PM(Updated: 07 Apr 2026 05:39PM)
The 10 were sold for as much as S$18,000 (US$14,000) each and were among at least 34 babies that were allegedly trafficked by the accused persons.
Defendants of a baby trafficking case being escorted out of their holding cells at the Bandung District Court, West Java on Apr 7, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wisnu Agung Prasetyo)
BANDUNG, West Java: At least 34 babies were allegedly trafficked by an Indonesian syndicate, including at least 10 who were taken to Singapore and sold for as much as S$18,000 (US$14,000) per child, prosecutors at a district court in Bandung, West Java said on Tuesday (Apr 7).
The allegations came as prosecutors laid out a litany of charges against the defendants – comprising 18 women and one man – who now face a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail for their purported roles in the syndicate.
The babies were trafficked to Singapore between 2023 and 2025, prosecutors said.
The case began “some time in 2023” …
Indonesia charges 19 over baby-trafficking ring
Indonesia charges 19 over baby-trafficking ring
Officials said the suspects could face up to 15 years in prison under Indonesian law if they are found guilty. (EPA Images pic)
BANDUNG: Indonesian prosecutors charged 19 people with human trafficking on Tuesday for their alleged roles in buying babies from new parents and selling them at a profit to clients at home and abroad.
A man and 18 women, including alleged ringleader Lie Siu Luan, 70, were formally charged during an appearance at the Bandung district court in West Java province.
If found guilty, they could face up to 15 years in prison under Indonesian laws governing human trafficking and child protection, officials said.
The defendants were arrested last year after a parent reported an alleged baby kidnapping to police in West Java.
Investigators tracked down a suspect who allegedly confessed to having traded more than two dozen infants, some as young as three months old.
They were bought from people who did not want or could not afford to keep their babies.
The person who reported the kidnapping had actually entered into an agreement with the syndicate but never got paid, police said.
“Most of those babies were tra…
Trial Opens for 19 Accused in Indonesian Baby Trafficking Case
Trial Opens for 19 Accused in Indonesian Baby Trafficking Case
In a significant baby trafficking trial in Bandung, West Java, 19 people are on trial for their involvement in a syndicate accused of trafficking at least 34 infants, including 10 sent to Singapore at prices reaching S$18,000 each. The group, made up of 18 women and one man, is facing severe charges under Indonesia’s anti-human trafficking statutes.
As outlined by prosecutors in the Bandung District Court, this trafficking ring operated between 2023 and 2025. The operation reportedly began when a Singaporean approached one of the suspects, Lie Siu Luan, also known as Lily, seeking help to acquire babies for illegal adoption. The syndicate allegedly created forged documents—birth certificates and ID cards—to facilitate these unlawful transfers.
Investigations revealed that the accused used social media platforms and online adoption forums to recruit vulnerable parents. In certain cases, these parents received payments ranging from nine million to 15 million rupiah in exchange for their newborns. Prosecutors noted that the syndicate utilized counterfeit identities and arranged fake guardians to mislead authorities as w…
Indonesia baby trafficking trial: Prosecutors seek 5 to 10 years’ jail for 19 people on trial
Indonesia baby trafficking trial: Prosecutors seek 5 to 10 years’ jail for 19 people on trial
The 19 defendants are accused of selling at least 34 babies between 2022 and 2025, some of whom were taken to Singapore and sold for thousands of dollars for each child.
Indonesia charges 19 over alleged baby trafficking ring that sent ...
Indonesia charges 19 over alleged baby trafficking ring that sent ...
Source
Jakarta Post - April 8, 2026
Bandung, West Java – Indonesian prosecutors on April 7 charged 19 people accused of sending infants to cities across the country and overseas, including to Singapore, in what the authorities described as one of Indonesia's largest trafficking cases in recent years.
Earlier, the defendants – 18 of them women – filed into Indonesia's Bandung District Court in a single line, dressed in white shirts and orange detainee vests. Several of them lowered their heads or shielded their faces from cameras outside.
At the centre of the case is Lie Siu Luan, 70, known as Lily, who police investigators described as the ringleader. She was arrested in July 2025 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport upon returning from Singapore, according to reports.
The case is spread across nine indictments involving the 19 defendants. An indictment seen by
The Straits Times
shows prosecutors have brought three charges against Lie.
Under Indonesia's legal system, prosecutors may file more than one charge so that judges can consider other offences if the main charge is not proven.
The primary charge is hum…
Corroboration
No verdict, no pronouncement. The model extracts atomic factual claims with verbatim quotes; every quote is validated against the source text and corroboration is computed by counting how many editorially-opposed blocs assert each fact.
The spine · 9 facts corroborated across ≥2 opposed blocs
2×broadly confirmedThe defendants are accused of trafficking at least 34 infants between 2022 and 2025 (or 2023 and 2025).
othersea
cna“The 19 defendants are accused of selling at least 34 babies between 2022 and 2025”
dxbnewsnetwork.com“19 people are on trial for their involvement in a syndicate accused of trafficking at least 34 infants”
seabusinessnews.com“Investigators tracked down a suspect who allegedly confessed to having traded more than two dozen infants”
2×cross-perspective · 2Some of the trafficked infants were sent to Singapore.
othersea
cna“some of whom were taken to Singapore and sold for thousands of dollars for each child.”
straitstimes.com“Indonesian prosecutors on April 7 charged 19 people accused of sending infants to cities across the country and overseas, including to Singapore”
asia-pacific-solidarity.net“Indonesian prosecutors on April 7 charged 19 people accused of sending infants to cities across the country and overseas, including to Singapore”
dxbnewsnetwork.com“including 10 sent to Singapore at prices reaching S$18,000 each.”
seabusinessnews.com“selling them at a profit to clients at home and abroad.”
1×cross-perspective · 2Indonesian prosecutors charged 19 people with human trafficking in connection with a baby trafficking ring.
other
straitstimes.com“Indonesian prosecutors on April 7 charged 19 people accused of sending infants to cities across the country and overseas, including to Singapore”
asia-pacific-solidarity.net“Indonesian prosecutors on April 7 charged 19 people accused of sending infants to cities across the country and overseas, including to Singapore”
seabusinessnews.com“Indonesian prosecutors charged 19 people with human trafficking on Tuesday for their alleged roles in buying babies from new parents and selling them at a profit to clients at home and abroad.”
1×cross-perspective · 2The 19 defendants consist of 18 women and one man.
other
straitstimes.com“Nineteen individuals, mostly women, face human trafficking charges”
asia-pacific-solidarity.net“Earlier, the defendants – 18 of them women – filed into Indonesia's Bandung District Court”
dxbnewsnetwork.com“The group, made up of 18 women and one man, is facing severe charges”
seabusinessnews.com“A man and 18 women, including alleged ringleader Lie Siu Luan, 70, were formally charged”
1×cross-perspective · 2Lie Siu Luan, also known as Lily, is identified as the suspected ringleader of the trafficking ring.
other
straitstimes.com“Lily, the suspected ringleader, faces charges including human trafficking”
asia-pacific-solidarity.net“At the centre of the case is Lie Siu Luan, 70, known as Lily, who police investigators described as the ringleader.”
dxbnewsnetwork.com“The operation reportedly began when a Singaporean approached one of the suspects, Lie Siu Luan, also known as Lily, seeking help to acquire babies for illegal adoption.”
seabusinessnews.com“A man and 18 women, including alleged ringleader Lie Siu Luan, 70, were formally charged”
1×cross-perspective · 2The syndicate allegedly used forged documents, such as birth certificates and ID cards, to facilitate the transfers.
other
straitstimes.com“The syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable pregnant women and falsified documents to traffic babies”
dxbnewsnetwork.com“The syndicate allegedly created forged documents—birth certificates and ID cards—to facilitate these unlawful transfers.”
1×broadly confirmedThe syndicate allegedly recruited vulnerable parents via social media and online adoption forums, paying them between nine million and 15 million rupiah for newborns.
other
dxbnewsnetwork.com“Investigations revealed that the accused used social media platforms and online adoption forums to recruit vulnerable parents. In certain cases, these parents received payments ranging from nine million to 15 million rupiah in exchange for their newborns.”
seabusinessnews.com“They were bought from people who did not want or could not afford to keep their babies.”
1×cross-perspective · 2If found guilty, the defendants could face up to 15 years in prison under Indonesian law.
other
straitstimes.com“Lily, the suspected ringleader, faces charges including human trafficking, potentially carrying a 15-year sentence”
seabusinessnews.com“If found guilty, they could face up to 15 years in prison under Indonesian laws governing human trafficking and child protection, officials said.”
1×cross-perspective · 2Authorities described the case as one of Indonesia’s largest trafficking cases in recent years.
other
straitstimes.com“in what the authorities described as one of Indonesia’s largest trafficking cases in recent years”
asia-pacific-solidarity.net“in what the authorities described as one of Indonesia's largest trafficking cases in recent years.”
Contested · 2 — sources conflict; shown, not resolved
⚔ Incompatible dates for the start of the operation.
A The trafficking ring operated between 2022 and 2025.
B The trafficking ring operated between 2023 and 2025.
⚔ Different sentencing figures: requested sentence (5-10 years) vs. maximum statutory penalty (up to 15 years).
A sea Prosecutors in the Indonesia baby trafficking trial seek 5 to 10 years’ jail for the 19 people on trial.
B other If found guilty, the defendants could face up to 15 years in prison under Indonesian law.
Single-source · 3 — reported by one bloc only (uncorroborated)
Lie Siu Luan was arrested in July 2025 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport upon returning from Singapore.
asia-pacific-solidarity.net
Prosecutors in the Indonesia baby trafficking trial seek 5 to 10 years’ jail for the 19 people on trial.
cna
The case was initiated after a parent reported an alleged baby kidnapping to police in West Java.
seabusinessnews.com
Framing · 3 — loaded language surfaced (spin shown, not adopted)
straitstimes.com
“The syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable pregnant women and falsified documents to traffic babies, with "good-looking" ones sent to Singapore for over S$20,000.”
→ The syndicate targeted pregnant women and falsified documents; some babies were sent to Singapore for over S$20,000.
dxbnewsnetwork.com
“In a significant baby trafficking trial in Bandung, West Java, 19 people are on trial for their involvement in a syndicate accused of trafficking at least 34 infants, including 10 sent to Singapore at prices reaching S$18,000 each.”
→ 19 people are on trial for trafficking at least 34 infants, including 10 sent to Singapore for up to S$18,000 each.
seabusinessnews.com
“Indonesian prosecutors charged 19 people with human trafficking on Tuesday for their alleged roles in buying babies from new parents and selling them at a profit to clients at home and abroad.”
→ 19 people were charged with buying babies from parents and selling them for profit.
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