Mother sells baby to cover delivery costs

Two women — a mother and daughter — allegedly sold a four-month-old baby in order to pay for delivery expenses, the Riau Islands Police said.

Both women are reportedly sex workers at the Bukit Senyum red-light district in Bintan, Riau Islands.

The baby trafficking case came to light after police were informed that a woman and her daughter, later identified as Otik, 36, and Nurya Isnani, 15, sold Nurya’s newborn for Rp 5 million (US$555), Bintan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yohannes S. Widodo told The Jakarta Post.

The police arrested Nurya on Nov. 23.

“[Nurya] admitted to the police that she sold her baby at the urging of her mother. We are investigating the case to find out whether it involves a syndicate,” Yohannes said on Friday.

The police later apprehended the baby’s purchaser, Siti Zubaidah, 30, who is also reportedly a sex worker. They also arrested Nurya’s pimp, Saifullah Zulfan, for employing an underage girl as a sex worker, Yohannes said.

The police have said Nurya’s mother, Otik, instigated the transaction.

“A negotiation took place between Otik and Zubaidah. Otik initially offered the baby for Rp 10 million, but Zubaidah bargained the price down to Rp 5 million. They struck a deal,” Yohannes said.

Both Nurya and Otik have said they regret their actions.

Nurya told the Post that when she was sixth month pregnant she started working at a brothel with her mother.

She gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Lina Ramadhani on Aug. 11, but didn’t have the Rp 1.9 million to pay for the delivery expenses at Riau Islands General Hospital.

“I only had two days with my baby. Then my mother told me to sell the baby to pay for the hospital bills and other necessities. We were forced to do it,” Nurya said, sobbing.

Otik said she wanted to sell the baby because of the money problems they faced, as Bukit Senyum received few visitors.

They did not have any money after the delivery and they were desperate to come up with the money, Otik said.

“After giving birth, my daughter needed money and the delivery costs were expensive. I didn’t have any money so I was forced to do this,” Otik, who is from Karawang, West Java, said.

Otik and Zubaidah could face up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp 5 billion if they were found guilty of violating child protection laws, Yohannes said.

Police have also named Saifullah a suspect for employing an underage woman as a sex worker.

Nurya is exempted from any charges because she is still underage and was pressured.