- Safiu Kehinde
A 36-year-old man has been arrested by Indonesian authorities for selling his 11-month-old baby on Facebook for 15 million rupiah (US$955) while spending the proceed on betting.
As reported by local media, the man, identified only as RA, reportedly used the proceeds to fund his online gambling activities and cover personal expenses.
According to Tangerang City Metro Police Chief, Zain Dwi Nugroho, the case came to light on October 1 when the child’s biological mother returned from work in Kalimantan and discovered her child missing.
“She pressed RA to share the whereabouts of their child until he eventually confessed that he had sold the newborn,” Mr. Zain explained.
The distressed mother accompanied RA to file a report at the Tangerang City Police Department.
When interrogated by authorities, RA initially claimed he sold the baby to relieve his financial difficulties.
However, further police investigations revealed that the money was spent primarily on online gambling, as against RA’s claims of financial necessity, according to news platform detiknews.
Meanwhile, the buyers, identified by the initials HK and MO, were also arrested and are suspected of being part of a human trafficking network.
“RA saw on Facebook that the buyers were looking to purchase a toddler, so he sent them a message and arranged the purchase,” Mr. Zain elaborated, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Authorities apprehended HK and MO at a rented residence in Tangerang, where they found the baby in their possession.
The three individuals are now under investigation for suspected involvement in human trafficking.
This incident has drawn condemnation from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission.
Chief Ai Maryati expressed deep concern over the case, stating, “It is worrying that he (RA) is using his financial situation to engage in activities that are being eradicated by the state, and with children being sold, he is also violating basic human rights.”
Maryati further noted that such actions represent a severe violation of children’s rights, which should be met with strict legal repercussions.
Under Indonesian law, human trafficking is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of 600 million rupiah, while violations of child protection laws carry similar penalties, including a maximum prison term of 15 years and a fine of 300 million rupiah.
The sale of children due to economic hardship is not an isolated incident in Indonesia.
Ms. Maryati mentioned another recent case she handled in which babies were sold from Depok, Jakarta, to Bali, citing poverty as a major factor.
In September, Depok police dismantled a baby trafficking ring, arresting eight suspects involved in the illicit sale of newborns via Facebook.
According to Depok Police Chief Arya Perdana, these infants were being bought from parents in Depok and later sold for higher prices in Bali.
Ms. Maryati, however, emphasized that there are no justifications for exploiting children in such a manner.
“There is no excuse to be treating children this way, and violation of their rights has to be punished severely,” she remarked.
She urged the government to take decisive action against human trafficking and online gambling, advocating for long-term solutions focused on education and public awareness.
The rise of online gambling has become a growing concern in Indonesia, with an estimated 4 million Indonesians engaged in these activities, according to Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi.
He described online gambling as “a serious threat to the country,” particularly among the 30 to 50-year-old age group.
Minister Setiadi’s comments underscore the broader societal issues contributing to cases like RA’s, where economic desperation leads individuals to take extreme and illegal measures.
The Asian Development Bank estimates that over 9.4 percent of Indonesia’s population was living below the national poverty line in 2023, a statistic that illustrates the economic challenges facing many Indonesian families.