Singapore-based agents allegedly bought at least 12 babies from Indonesian trafficking ring, court hears
A suspected ringleader of a baby trafficking syndicate told an Indonesian court that at least four people in Singapore were involved in purchasing around a dozen babies between 2022 and 2025, paying between S$17,000 and S$21,600 per child. The defendant, 70-year-old Lie Siu Luan, claimed she was contacted by individuals posing as adoption agents and a notary who facilitated the transactions. Nineteen defendants are on trial in Bandung for allegedly selling at least 34 babies during this period, with prosecutors saying the revelations suggest the operation was larger than initially believed.
At the Bandung District Court in West Java, Indonesia, Lie Siu Luan (also known as Lily), the suspected ringleader of an alleged baby trafficking syndicate, confessed to trafficking at least 12 babies to Singapore and receiving between S$17,000 and S$21,600 per child. According to court records, Lily was first contacted in late 2022 by a person named "John," whom she described as a notary from Singapore, who said he had clients seeking to adopt Indonesian babies. Lily's modus operandi involved finding Indonesian couples in financial distress, paying their hospital bills in exchange for their newborns, then selling the babies to the Singapore-based agents. She identified at least three other Singapore-based "adoption agents"—"Petter," "Mr Tan," and "Mr Chew"—though she claimed not to know their full identities. The case involves 19 defendants accused of selling at least 34 babies between 2022 and 2025, with prosecutors indicating that Lily's recent testimony reveals the operation was more extensive than initially documented in the April indictments, which mentioned only 10 babies and one agent's name.
What's missing
The article does not provide details on whether any of the Singapore-based agents have been identified, arrested, or charged; the current status of investigations into the Singapore side of the operation; or what has happened to the babies who were trafficked.
What different sources said
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
At least 4 ‘agents’ in Singapore bought babies from Indonesian trafficking ring, suspect tells Bandung court
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
At least 4 ‘agents’ in Singapore bought babies from Indonesian trafficking ring, suspect tells Bandung court
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