KPAI Reveals Midwife's Admission on Sheltering 11 Babies in Sleman Home
Commissioner of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), Diyah Puspitarini, stated that her agency participated in the evacuation of 11 babies from a house in Pakem, Sleman, some time ago. Diyah revealed the midwife’s admission regarding the sheltering of those 11 babies.
“The midwife’s admission is that it was an illegal daycare. However, it needs to be investigated further due to several findings and notes from us,” said Diyah to reporters on Wednesday (13/5/2026), as reported by detikNews.
Diyah mentioned that the daycare was initially in Gamping and then moved to Pakem, which is quite a distance away. The daycare had no identification signs outside, despite having been operating for five months.
“There is clearly a violation of children’s rights if children are left for more than 24 hours, and the midwife also intentionally allowed this without permission and without fulfilling the children’s basic rights,” said Diyah.
She assessed that children under one year old should be under their mother’s direct care to fulfil their basic right to exclusive breastfeeding.
“Furthermore, in this daycare, the children stay overnight, meaning babies under one year old should be with their mother to fulfil their basic right to exclusive breastfeeding, which has not been met. The facilities and infrastructure of the daycare in Pakem are also far from childcare standards, especially with 11 babies under one year old cared for by only three caregivers,” she explained.
KPAI supports law enforcement authorities in developing the case, including investigating possible suspicions of baby trading.
“Therefore, we hope and support the efforts of law enforcement authorities to develop the case, whether there is suspicion of baby trading, including tracing the flow of fund transfers from the babies’ parents to the caregivers, which needs to be investigated,” she stated.
Diyah also assessed that there are indications of exploitation and indirect child neglect in the case. She urged that it be thoroughly investigated.
“Indirectly, yes,” she said.
Previously, residents in Padukuhan Randu Wonokerso, Hargobinangun, Pakem, Sleman, were shocked by the discovery of babies in the midwife’s house. The babies were said to be mostly the result of extramarital relationships.
Sleman Police Resort Criminal Investigation Chief AKP Mateus Wiwit Kustiyadi explained that initially, officers received suspicious information regarding the presence of dozens of babies in the house. The babies were cared for by three people.
Police officers and related agencies evacuated 11 babies from the midwife’s house. According to the police, the midwife had been assisting in deliveries for the past five months.
“Of course, we felt there was something suspicious about the presence of 11 babies in Hargobinangun in a house cared for by three people,” said Wiwit to reporters.