Trafficked twins show gaps in system

Little did Anah, 29, know that finding new home for her children could get her into trouble with the law.

Without little means of support and next to no knowledge about legal issues, the mother of two decided to give up her next child when she found out she was two months’ pregnant.

Anah, who works as a house helper in Bogor, West Java, gave birth to twin boys on Feb. 10.

With a deadbeat husband and no money to pay for hospital bills, Anah resolved to offer her unnamed newborns for adoption.

Anah said that her family could not offer much help. She lives with her parents and 12 other relatives in a two-bedroom home. Her father is a farmer and has been ill for the last two months. Anah said that her income as a housemaid was not enough to raise four children.

One week after the twin’s birth, a woman identified as MS, a 49-year-old shopkeeper, came to Anah’s house and offered a solution.

MS promised that she would take the twins to her relatives and gave Anah Rp 1.85 million (US$205) to cover her medical fees.

Anah said that she trusted MS wholeheartedly.

Events turned grim for the twins when MS did not bring them to her relatives, instead allegedly attempting to sell the boys to a third party for Rp 40 million.

The buyer turned out to be an undercover detective.

The Depok Police had been targeting MS after receiving reports that she was involved in a human trafficking ring operating in the city.

MS was arrested. The babies comprise the principal evidence in the case.

The Depok Police, led by officers from the Limo precinct, are investigating the case, as they believe MS may be part of a larger human trafficking syndicate.

“The suspect may face up to 15 years in prison for violating the Children Protection Law and the Human Trafficking Law,” Depok Police chief Sr. Comr. Mulyadi Kaharni said.

Anah said that she wept after learning that MS allegedly attempted to sell her children, claiming that she never wanted to sell her sons, no matter how unfortunate her situation. “They are my own flesh and blood. I would not sell them for any reason.”

The Depok Social Agency took custody of the boys, now named Asep and Ujang, and placed them in the Bina Remaja Mandiri Foundation orphanage in Depok.

Amiruddin, a social worker, said that Asep and Ujang would stay in the orphanage until the investigation was finished and the case was taken to court.

He also said that the agency welcomed couples who wished to adopt the twins. Couples must be married at least five years, have no any children and be at least 30 years old.

Anah said she would not take her children back, believing that her sons would have a brighter future with more prosperous parents.

“I promise I will not take them back. I did this for their own good.”