An Indonesian court has found 19 people guilty of trafficking 34 babies in Indonesia and Singapore
The ringleader, a 70-year-old woman, was given the harshest sentence of seven years while others received sentences ranging from three to six years
The trafficking ring illegally bought babies in West Java and sold them for adoption in Indonesia and Singapore between 2023 and 2025
Of the 34 babies, 12 are believed to already be in Singapore
The high-profile case has highlighted the enduring problem of child trafficking in Indonesia, often fuelled by parents who sell their children
The court session is starting now, with a judge delivering his opening remarks.
We're expecting to hear the verdict on the alleged syndicate, which has been accused of illegally buying babies and selling them under the guise of adoption.
As a reminder, they're facing five to 10 years in prison, according to what prosecutors have sought.
We'll bring you more updates as soon as we get them.
Yuli Saputra
Reporting from court
Because of the media attention this baby trafficking case has received, there are numerous journalists present in the court room today.
Some defendants are obviously trying their best to keep out of the spotlight - with one even hitting a journalist who was taking photos of them.
The defendants, the public prosecutor and legal counsel are currently present in the courtroom, but the trial hasn't started yet, as we're waiting for the panel of judges to arrive.
Astudestra Ajengrastri
BBC World Service
Today's case is the latest in a series of such cases that Indonesian authorities have been tackling, though many of the other cases involve babies being moved within Indonesia:
In February 2026, Indonesian police uncovered a national baby trafficking network and arrested 12 suspects.
A month earlier, in January 2026, police in Medan had arrested nine in another alleged syndicate, which reportedly housed pregnant women in a rented property before arranging for illegal adoptions.
Police uncovered two alleged baby trafficking syndicates in Pekanbaru and Ngawi in 2025.
In July 2024, police arrested eight suspects in a case involving babies allegedly destined for Bali.
In December 2024, Yogyakarta police arrested two midwives accused of running an illegal adoption scheme since 2010 and selling at least 66 babies.
Between 2022 and October 2025, authorities recorded 91 cases of child trafficking-related abduction cases, involving a total of 180 children.
As we reported earlier, a total of 19 Indonesians are now on trial for their various roles in the alleged baby trafficking syndicate.
Lie Siu Luan is the 70-year-old woman accused of being the main ringleader who recruited the others and ran the operation.
Astri Fitrinika is accused of being the main broker who allegedly sourced and procured almost all of the babies.
Lai Siu Ha is accused of forging documents for the babies, including birth certificates and Indonesian family cards.
Other defendants are accused of acting as brokers who worked with Fitrinika; or posed as the babies' biological mothers by listing their names on the fake documents or appearing in video calls with prospective adoptive parents.
Some of the defendants acted as caregivers for the babies.
Lie, Fitrinika, Lai and two of the other alleged brokers face up to ten years in jail.
The rest face up to five years in jail.
Liza Tambunan
Reporting from court
The 19 defendants, 18 of whom are woman, have been escorted into court.
They will receive their verdict here shortly. As a reminder, prosecutors are seeking up to 10 years in jail for a number of them.
The defendants were seen covering their faces, with their heads down, as they filed out of a van earlier at the courthouse. They're all wearing red vests with the words "criminal detainee" printed on the back.
Still keeping their heads down as they take their seats the court room, their faces are covered as reporters snap photos of them.
One of them, Astri Fitrinika, seems distraught and appears to be having trouble breathing. Court officials are trying to calm her down. She's accused of being the main broker in the alleged baby trafficking ring.
Tessa Wong
Asia Digital Reporter
When David and Ally first saw Marcus, they knew he was destined to be their son.
"For me it was love at first sight", David told me recently. The couple had tried for years to have a child but when they couldn't, they decided to adopt a baby from Indonesia.
But now, years later, they face the nightmare of possibly losing their child - Marcus is believed to be one of the babies allegedy trafficked into Singapore by the West Java syndicate.
If he is indeed found to be a victim of trafficking, then the question would be whether he has to be returned to Indonesia.
David and Ally, who spoke to me on condition of anonymity, are not alone. At least 12 babies are thought to be in Singapore in the care of their adoptive parents.
Tessa Wong
Asia Digital Reporter
Many in Indonesia and Singapore will be watching today's ruling closely, because of what it might mean for the babies at the centre of the case.
The court in West Java today will be announcing whether the defendants are guilty of human trafficking. If so, the babies could be considered victims of trafficking.
This in turn would present many legal questions, particularly for the babies who are already in Singapore. Would the babies be sent back to Indonesia?
When my Indonesian colleague and I asked the Indonesian and Singaporean governments about this respectively, we did not get a definitive answer on what will happen to the babies in Singapore.
But the Indonesian government has said it will prioritise the babies' "best interests".
The syndicate has been accused of collecting babies from across West Java and bringing them to the city of Depok. From there, the babies were allegedly taken to a house in Pontianak and cared for by hired nannies.
Members of the alleged trafficking ring then took some babies to Singapore, transiting through the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
Tessa Wong
Asia Digital Reporter
Image source, BBC IndonesiaProsecutors allege that an Indonesian woman named Lie Siu Luan, who is among those on trial, is the syndicate's ringleader.
Lie, 70, is accused of recruiting people to act as brokers, source babies, take care of the infants, and forge documents.
She also allegedly hired someone specifically to forge birth certificates and adoption documents.
She has admitted supplying babies for adoption to at least four Singaporean contacts who promised to pay at least 18,000 Singapore dollars ($14,000; £10,300) for each baby.
In court, Lie said she "didn't know it was wrong" to send the babies overseas for adoption and said her Singapore partner had led her to believe that it was above board.
Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison sentence for Lie.
An Indonesian court is expected to rule today on an alleged syndicate accused of illegally buying and selling children for adoption.
The case, which first came to light last year, has shocked Indonesia and Singapore - as well as adoptive parents who have realised their child may have been trafficked.
Nineteen people - 18 women and one man - are on trial in West Java, accused of trafficking the babies and forging documents to make them look like legal adoptions.
Among 34 babies alleged to have been trafficked in this manner, at least 20 were bound for Singapore. During the trial earlier this year, it was revealed that at least 12 had already entered Singapore.
The defendants have argued that they did not know their actions were illegal and believed they were "helping families". Prosecutors are asking for jail sentences ranging from five to 10 years for the defendants.
We'll bring you the latest updates from the court today - stick with us.