Father Secretly Sells His Baby to Pay Gambling Debts

A 36-year-old Indonesian man has been arrested after he allegedly sold his 11-month-old baby on Facebook to pay off his online gambling debts. The father, identified only as RA, received a paltry sum of 15 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately £730) for his child, which he promptly squandered on gambling.

The incident came to light when the child’s biological mother, RA’s wife, returned home to their Tangerang residence and discovered her baby missing. After confronting her husband, she forced him to confess to the shocking act. The mother then reported the crime to the Tangerang City Police Department.

During interrogation, RA admitted to selling his child to alleviate his financial burdens. However, the funds he obtained were quickly dissipated due to his impulsive gambling habits. The buyers, identified as HK and MO, were also apprehended on suspicion of involvement in a human trafficking network, a crime punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a 600 million Rupiah fine in Indonesia.

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission strongly condemned the incident, emphasizing the grave concern of individuals using their financial struggles to engage in illegal activities that exploit children. The commission’s chief, Ai Maryati, highlighted the violation of basic human rights involved in such acts.

This disturbing case is not isolated. Just weeks prior, police in Depok, a city south of Jakarta, uncovered a baby trafficking ring operating on Facebook. Eight individuals were arrested in connection with the online sale of children, with prices ranging from 10 to 15 million Rupiah. The children were subsequently transported to Bali and resold for significantly higher amounts.

The Asia Pacific region accounts for nearly 60% of all human trafficking victims worldwide, underscoring the region’s role as a key hub for supplying victims.