Singapore adopters fear their toddler could have been trafficked
When David and Ally first saw the baby from Indonesia, Marcus, they were convinced he was meant to be theirs. Their search for a child led them to an agency that promised a smooth transfer from Jakarta to Singapore, and after a hefty payment and an apparently glitch‑free visa process, the little boy was in their arms.
No one had imagined that a week before Marcus would be registered as a citizen that the Singapore government would suspend his naturalisation and flag the case as a possible trafficking offence. The claim came from immigration officials who said that the child's paperwork matched that of a list of babies the authorities have identified as trafficked from Indonesia.
At least 20 babies are alleged to have been illegally bought in Indonesia for adoption in Singapore. 19 people—including a majority of women—have been arrested and are now on trial in West Java over the alleged trafficking operation led by Lie Siu Luan, who is named as the biological mother on Marcus's adoption documents.
Background on the trafficking ring
Investigators say the syndicate operated largely through social‑media groups, offering “free birthing” and cash in exchange for babies. The courts have found forged birth certificates and adoption papers, and mothers who signed off on the documents were found to be traffickers as well. The case underscores gaps in Singapore’s verification procedures for overseas adoptions and fuels calls for a global crackdown on child trafficking.
David and Ally maintain that they performed all due diligence. “There were only the checks that the Singapore government was asked to carry out,” he told the BBC. He says the information the officials gave him, “was no longer valid.” Ally points out that Singapore’s agencies oversee thousands of adoptions; “we were not the ones who did the checks.”
Current state of affairs
Neither Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs nor the Ministry of Social and Family Development has confirmed the babies’ status or made official statements about their fate. Jakarta officials are also undecided, citing ongoing investigations. By the time the judgements are issued, Marcus will have spent three years in Singapore, and the idea of sending him back to his biological parents raises emotional, developmental, and legal questions.
Psychologists warn that the uncertainty and potential for multiple relocations could affect a child's attachment and mental health. The Society for Child Development in Singapore has urged the government to conduct a thorough review of adoption protocols, while activists in Indonesia emphasize the root causes—poverty, lack of social support, and cultural pressures—facilitating the black‑market trade of children.
The trial has now entered its third month. The sentencing could range from five to ten years for each accused, depending on the evidence of trafficking and document forgery. The question remains: will Marcus stay with David and Ally or be returned to Indonesia?
BBC: Tessa Wong and Astudestra Ajengrastri reporting.
