Indonesia sentences baby trafficking ringleader to jail

An Indonesian woman, Lie Siu Luan, 70, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for leading a baby trafficking ring. A judge stated on Tuesday that Lie was found guilty of committing crimes "for the purpose of exploitation." Lie was the leader of a group of 19 people accused of trafficking babies both within Indonesia and to Singapore. The sentence handed down was less than the 10-year demand from prosecutors. Lie had previously admitted to sending at least 12 babies to Singapore. In one instance cited in the indictment, she trafficked a baby to Singapore for adoption in 2022, receiving approximately S$17,000. Another defendant, Astri Fitrinika, received a sentence of six years and seven months for a similar charge. The defendants were arrested last year following a report of a baby kidnapping filed by a parent in West Java province. Police successfully rescued several infants who were being held by the syndicate before they could be sold. Infants rejected by potential clients in Singapore were reportedly sold domestically, including to adoptive parents in Jakarta. Human trafficking remains a significant problem in Indonesia, an archipelago nation.

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The sentence was lower than prosecutors’ demand of 10 years for Lie, who previously told the court that she had sent at least 12 babies to Singapore.