Father ‘sells 11-month-old baby behind mother’s back to pay for his gambling’

A man has been arrested in Indonesia after he allegedly sold his 11-month-old baby on Facebook behind his wife’s back to fund his online gambling habit. 

The father, identified only as 36-year-old RA, got just 15million Indonesian Rupiah, the equivalent to around £730, which he then sank into his online gambling accounts. 

RA was caught after his wife, the child’s biological mother, returned to their home in Tangerang, West Jakarta, and could not find her baby. 

Tangerang City Metro Police Chief Zain Dwi Nugroho told local media: ‘She pressed RA to share the whereabouts of their child until he eventually confessed that he had sold the newborn.

‘She then brought him to make a report at the Tangerang City Police Department.’

After being interrogated by detectives, RA admitted to selling his baby to lessen his debts. 

But once he had the money, he said he impulsively used the money online. 

The buyers, identified only as HK and MO, were also arrested for suspected involvement in a human trafficking network – a crime that carries a punishment of up to 15 years in jail and a 600 million rupiah (£29,300) fine in Indonesia.

HK and MO are being investigated for suspected involvement in a larger human trafficking network, though no details of this are currently known.  

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission condemned the shocking incident.

Its chief, Ai Maryati, told local media: ‘It is worrying that [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.’

It comes just weeks after police uncovered a baby trafficking ring in Depok, a city south of Jakarta, where they arrested eight people involved in the online trade of children. 

Arya Perdan, the city’s top cop, said the children were being advertised on Facebook and were being sold for prices ranging from 10 million to 15 million Indonesian rupiah (£490 to £740).

The children were then taken to Bali, where they were re-sold for as much as 45million rupiah (£2,195). 

Nearly 60% of all human trafficking victims across the world are from the Asia Pacific region, with south and south-east Asia considered key hubs for supplying victims.