A man in Tangerang, West Jakarta, was arrested for allegedly selling his 11-month-old baby online for 15 million rupiah to raise funds for online gambling and personal expenses. The buyers involved in the transaction were also arrested on suspicion of being part of a human trafficking network. The incident came to light when the child’s biological mother returned from work and found her baby missing, leading her to confront the father who eventually confessed to selling the baby. The father claimed he did it to alleviate financial burdens, but police discovered he used the money for online gambling instead.
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) condemned the incident, citing concerns about the violation of basic human rights. The father connected with the buyers through Facebook and arranged the purchase of the baby. Both the father and the buyers were arrested, and an investigation is ongoing to determine their involvement in human trafficking. In Indonesia, human trafficking carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in jail and a fine, while violating child protection laws can lead to 15 years in jail and a fine as well.
The case reflects a broader issue of using children as a means to solve economic problems in the Indonesian community. The incident raised alarm about the increasing number of Indonesians involved in online gambling activities, which Communication and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi highlighted as a serious threat to the country. The Indonesian population perceives children as a commodity, as seen in other cases where babies were sold from Jakarta to Bali due to poverty. The government has been called upon to implement long-term strategies to address human trafficking and gambling through education and literacy programs.
In a separate incident in Depok, the Indonesian police dismantled a baby trafficking ring and made arrests, revealing a disturbing pattern of babies being bought from parents via social media platforms like Facebook and sold for profit elsewhere. The Child Protection Commission emphasized the need for severe punishment for such violations of children’s rights. The Asian Development Bank reported that over 9.4% of Indonesia’s population was living below the national poverty line in 2023, indicating the prevalence of economic challenges faced by families that may lead to exploitative situations like child trafficking and gambling. The government and law enforcement agencies are urged to take decisive action to address these issues and protect vulnerable children from exploitation.
