Shameful: Palembang Parents Sell Baby for 52 Million Rupiah over School Fee Inability
A married couple with initials HA (31) and S (27) shockingly attempted to sell their newborn daughter for 52 million rupiah (approximately £2,600) due to economic hardship. The couple from Palembang, South Sumatra, were arrested by police.
The baby’s father, HA, revealed that the infant was their fourth child, with one previously deceased. He resorted to attempting to sell his child due to economic difficulties and inability to afford school fees for his existing children.
“Yes, this is my child, not yet named, female. Because I cannot afford to support my two children, let alone school fees for them as well,” HA stated to police on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
Subdit Head of Child Protection (PPA-PPO) at the South Sumatra Police Directorate, AKBP Rizka Aprianti, revealed that police have secured the baby’s father. Meanwhile, HA’s wife remains a witness and is caring for the three-day-old infant.
“The mother is currently with the baby. Since the baby is only three days old and requires breast milk and parental care,” Rizka explained.
According to Rizka, the father played a larger role in the case. She confirmed that investigators are still examining the parents’ attempted sale of their child.
“Preliminary investigation findings show this was the first attempt (to sell the child), but we will continue our inquiry. The father played more of a role, such as posting and publicising the offer,” Rizka added.
Chronology of Events
The case came to light through intensive cyber patrols conducted by the Directorate of Investigation for Child Protection at South Sumatra Police. Officers detected an illegal child adoption offer via social media. An informant responded to the offer and expressed interest in adopting the child once born.
On 19 February 2026, HA’s wife gave birth to a female child who remains unnamed. The couple contacted the informant again, informing them the child had been born and was ready for adoption. However, the baby’s parents demanded 52 million rupiah from the informant.
The informant and the baby’s parents met in person. The informant provided 1 million rupiah as a down payment. Following receipt of the money, police—who had been conducting surveillance—immediately made the arrest. HA and his wife were apprehended in Sukarami District, Palembang City, on Sunday, 22 February 2026.