SINGAPORE, Aug 7 — Singapore authorities have found no evidence so far that any offence was committed in the country or by Singapore-based adoption agents linked to an Indonesian baby trafficking ring, but investigations and reviews are ongoing.

The case involves at least 12 Indonesian babies allegedly sent to Singapore for adoption by the syndicate, with each child reportedly sold for between 200 million rupiah (about RM51,000) and 250 million rupiah (about RM64,000), The Straits Times reported yesterday.

Indonesia’s West Java authorities had previously said three Singapore adoption agents were involved in the racket.

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development said they were working with Indonesian authorities to obtain information on each child and their biological parents.

“Based on information available to us thus far, we are presently unable to conclude that any offence has been committed in Singapore, or by Singaporeans or Singapore-based entities.

“We will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against those who have broken our laws,” the ministries were quoted as saying in a joint reply on August 4.

The information gathered will help Singapore courts decide what is in the best interests of each child, including pending adoption processes.

The Indonesian trafficking ring, reported to have been led by 70-year-old Lie Siu Luan, was found guilty of recruiting babies, preparing forged adoption documents and arranging for the children to be sent overseas.

A court in Bandung sentenced 19 members of the syndicate to jail terms ranging from three years and four months to seven years on July 21.

The biological parents of the babies were reportedly recruited through social media and given up to 20 million rupiah (about RM5,100) to surrender their children.

Singapore authorities previously said adoption agencies must conduct due diligence and those who knowingly bring in children of suspicious origin could face enforcement action.

The case has also affected some Singapore adoptive parents, with delays reported in the processing of citizenship applications for the children, according to the newspaper.

Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim, who raised the issue in Parliament, said the uncertainty was “a torture” for affected parents who had cared for their children for more than a year.

Singapore authorities stressed that adoption and citizenship are separate processes, and an adoption order does not automatically grant citizenship.