A man in Tangerang, West Jakarta, allegedly sold his 11-month-old baby online for 15 million rupiah, using the proceeds for online gambling and personal needs. The buyers were also arrested for involvement in human trafficking networks. The incident was discovered when the child’s mother returned from work and found her baby missing. The man confessed to selling the child when questioned by the police, claiming financial burdens as his reason.
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission condemned the incident, stating that selling a child violates basic human rights and goes against efforts to eradicate such activities. The man knew the buyers through Facebook and contacted them to arrange the purchase of the toddler. All parties involved, including the buyers identified as HK and MO, were arrested while the baby was found in a rented home in Tangerang. They are being investigated for their involvement in a human trafficking network, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail and a significant fine under Indonesian law.
The Communication and Information Minister highlighted the growing issue of online gambling in Indonesia, with an estimated 4 million people engaged in such activities. The majority of them are within the productive age group of 30 to 50 years old. The Indonesian Child Protection Commission pointed out that the community often views children as a solution to economic problems, leading to cases of child trafficking due to poverty. In a similar case last month, a baby trafficking ring was dismantled in Depok, Jakarta, with newborns being bought from parents via Facebook and sold in Bali.
The Indonesian government needs to implement long-term strategies to combat human trafficking and online gambling through education and literacy programs. Addressing the root causes of poverty and financial difficulties can help prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. According to the Asian Development Bank, a significant percentage of the Indonesian population was living below the national poverty line in 2023, indicating a need for comprehensive measures to improve economic conditions and protect vulnerable groups such as children. Violations of child rights and involvement in illegal activities must be punished severely to deter others from engaging in similar actions.
