Baby trafficking syndicate uncovered in Salatiga

Central Java Police have uncovered the operation of a baby trafficking syndicate in Salatiga with the recent arrest of a housewife who sold her newborn baby to a buyer from Jambi, an officer said Tuesday.

“We've arrested six people involved in baby trading and investigated the case to see whether it involves possible local or international syndicates,” Salatiga Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Rochmat said.

Agus explained that the arrest started with the housewife, 21, who delivered her baby on Jan. 12, 2010, and sold it to a 46-year-old resident of Meranti Baru, Mendiang district, Jambi, at a cost of Rp 4.3 million (US$470).

The baby sale was made possible with the help of middleman, 35, who is also a snack seller at Tingkir area, Salatiga, Agus said, adding that he later contacted a colleague, 28, from Klaten, Central Java.

The two men, together with three others, later went to Salatiga to settle the deal after paying Rp 800,000 for the labor process at a clinic.

“Fortunately the baby had not been sent to other islands. We arrested the six in Klaten and named them suspects,” Agus added. The baby is now at Salatiga Hospital.