No evidence of offence committed here, or by S’pore agents, in Indonesian baby trafficking case
At least 12 babies were sent to Singapore for adoption by the syndicate.
Singapore officials have stated that they have found no evidence of any criminal activity within Singapore or by Singapore-based adoption agents related to a recent Indonesian baby trafficking case. At least 12 babies were allegedly trafficked and adopted by Singapore families.
Three Singapore adoption agencies were revealed to have played a role in the scheme, with Indonesian authorities sentencing 19 members of the trafficking ring to prison terms ranging from three to seven years.
Indonesian authorities claim that Lie Siu Luan, a 70-year-old woman, was the head of the trafficking syndicate and was convicted of recruiting babies for adoption, forging documents, and arranging for the children to be sent abroad. She received a seven-year prison sentence.
The biological parents of the Indonesian babies were reportedly tricked by the trafficking ring, with some receiving up to 20 million rupiah to give their children for adoption. The babies were often recruited through social media.
Singapore's adoption laws prohibit paying biological parents for their children's adoption, though certain charges are permitted, such as reimbursement for medical bills and legal fees. Adoption agencies in Singapore must follow specific regulations, including not providing false information or deceitfully obtaining consent from birth parents.
The Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said they are unable to conclude that any offences have been committed in Singapore or by Singaporean entities. They also emphasized their commitment to working with Indonesian authorities to gather more information and help inform their decision-making process.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
