Indonesia Singapore baby trafficking: What happens to the babies now?

This is foremost in the minds of the adoptive parents in Singapore taking care of the babies. For months they have been on tenterhooks, waiting to find out whether they will get to keep their children.

Speaking to the BBC after the verdict, David, the Singaporean parent whom we interviewed previously, said he wanted both governments to make a decision soon.

“Since the case is concluded, how can we move on and what will happen to our son? It’s been almost a year of fear and anxiety from waiting,” said David, who spoke to us on condition we use a pseudonym for him.

“I sincerely hope that both authorities can come to a decision based on the best interests of the children.

“We respectfully ask that, in making this decision, consideration be given to the fact that both our son and our family are victims of the circumstances surrounding this case.”

David and his wife Ally had previously told the BBC that they had no idea the child they adopted from Indonesia could have been trafficked. They said they had done their best to do their own background checks.

During the adoption process they had submitted to numerous checks from the Singaporean government which, they said, should have detected the trafficking.

Neither Indonesian nor Singaporean authorities gave definitive answers to the BBC’s previous queries about what they intend to do with the babies.

Following the verdict, we asked them again.

Indonesia’s foreign affairs ministry said “several aspects require further examination including the children’s legal status, the identities of their biological parents, and the ongoing proceedings in Singapore”.

It reiterated that it is “committed to prioritising the best interests of the children”.

Singaporean authorities have yet to respond to our latest queries.