Indonesia’s KPAI urges return of 18 children trafficked to Singapore

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2 hours ago

KPAI recorded that 18 babies had been adopted by individuals in Singapore as part of the trafficking operation.

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has urged the Social Affairs Ministry to take measured steps to rehabilitate and repatriate children who fell victim to human trafficking disguised as illegal adoption and remain in Singapore.

KPAI Commissioner Ai Maryati Solihah said here on Thursday that the children were victims of a trafficking network uncovered by the West Java Regional Police in 2025.

The network was involved in trafficking babies from Indonesia to Singapore, with each child reportedly sold for around Rp300 million (approximately US$16,585).

KPAI recorded that 18 babies had been adopted by individuals in Singapore as part of the trafficking operation.

“We urge the Social Affairs Ministry to take measured steps to receive the children, provide rehabilitation, and arrange their repatriation from Singapore, where 18 children have so far been deemed unable to be returned to Indonesia,” she said.

KPAI considers that the overseas adoption procedures in these cases failed to meet national and international standards.

Based on coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian representatives in Singapore, Singaporean authorities had previously considered civil registration documents, including letterheads and official stamps, to be valid because they appeared authentic.

However, the case was subsequently uncovered by police.

Following evidence of document forgery and the sentencing of 13 perpetrators by the Bandung District Court in West Java, KPAI has called for the adoption status of the children to be reviewed.

KPAI also highlighted the need for further law enforcement efforts to uncover overseas networks involved in receiving and distributing babies trafficked from Indonesia.

Solihah said the court ruling should serve as the basis for policy decisions and must be respected. She noted that Indonesian law requires strict adoption procedures through the Child Adoption Advisory Team (PIPA) under the Social Affairs Ministry, whereas Singapore allows adoptions to be arranged through agencies.

“The relevant authorities, including the Social Affairs Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, need to take measured steps, particularly by arranging the retrieval, rehabilitation, and repatriation of these children, as well as tracing their whereabouts, given that they have parents in Indonesia,” she said.

Authorities also need to prepare social rehabilitation facilities for the victims upon their arrival in Indonesia, she added.