Jakarta (ANTARA) - Officials from the National Police raided an apartment in Bekasi, which was suspected of housing children prior to their being sold, and saved two infants from falling victim to trafficking.
Director of General Crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, conveyed the information at a press conference here on Tuesday.
"We have successfully saved two baby boys who are about two weeks old (A) and one month old (B)," he informed.
He said that his administration is also collaborating with the Social Affairs Ministry to provide proper care to the two infants.
Four persons have been arrested in connection with the case—SA (50), E (54), DM (25), and Y (35), he disclosed.
The raid was made after a report on the alleged kidnapping of A was sent to the Central Sulawesi Police Department, he informed.
An investigation revealed that A was handed over by his own mother, SS, to another woman, F.
"And then A was brought to Jakarta," he added.
The Central Sulawesi Police Department immediately issued a police report on alleged child trafficking and then coordinated with Bekasi Metro Police to raid an apartment suspected of being used to house the babies before they were sold, he informed.
After catching Y, police conducted further investigation and arrested three other perpetrators, he added.
Providing details on the role of each perpetrator, Puro said that DM acted as a supplier of babies, and was assisted by another person, L. SA was the one who looked for babies and supplied them, he added.
Meanwhile, E looked for the babies that were ordered by SA, and Y housed the babies and distributed them, he said.
"From the result of the investigation, it is known that Y, since the end of 2022, has sold some 16 babies, with details of 5 baby boys and 11 baby girls," he informed.
The perpetrators were reportedly selling baby boys for Rp13 million to Rp15 million (US$866 to US$1 thousand), and baby girls for Rp15 million to Rp23 million (US$1 thousand to US$1,533), the brigadier general said.
"The perpetrators generated a profit of some Rp500 thousand (US$33) to Rp2 million (US$133)," Puro added.
He said that the perpetrators have violated Article 6 of Law Number 21 of 2007 about Human Trafficking Eradication, which carries a sentence of 3–15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp120 million (US$ 8,001) to up to Rp600 million (US$40 thousand).
The perpetrators have also violated Article 83 of Law Number 35 of 2014 about changes to Law Number 23 of 2022 about Child Protection, which carries a minimum sentence of 3 years and a maximum imprisonment of 15 years, as well as a minimum fine of Rp60 million (US$4 thousand) and a maximum fine of Rp300 million (Rp20 thousand), he said.
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Reporter: Narda Margaretha S, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
