Child Trafficking Case in Makassar Ends in Peace, Police: The Perpetrator Promises Not to Repeat His Actions

MAKASSAR - A case of human trafficking (TPPO) related to the alleged sale of a child by his mother as the reported initial ML (38) ended peacefully after the reporter as her husband Anto (40) withdrew the report after undergoing mediation with humanity at the South Sulawesi Police Office.

"The reporter has withdrawn his report and has made peace with the reporter. The reporter promised not to repeat his actions," said the Director of Women and Children Protection (PPA) and Eradication of Human Trafficking (PPO) of the South Sulawesi Police, Kombes Pol Osva, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, April 2.

The mediation efforts went well after a hearing between the reporter, attended by representatives of the Sulsel Regional Office for the Protection of Women and Children (PPA), the reporter (has been secured), and the investigators of the Sulsel Regional Office for the Protection of Women and Children (PPA) and the Sulsel Regional Police.

From the meeting, the reporter and the reporter plan to continue this matter to the divorce process at the Religious Court. In addition, the reporter was also given custody of his two children, although the UPT PPA South Sulawesi initially offered temporary custody.

"Their plan is to continue to the divorce process. They were advised to be cared for by the PPA, but the reporter wants to take care of his child and promises to be ready to meet the needs of his child," said Osva.

The two biological children, each with the initials AZ (baby) and AS, are toddlers, are now in the care of their father, Anto. As for the other child, the initials CHY were previously exchanged with AZ to the alleged giver of the money with the initials NL, did not become part of this case.

"The two biological children have been taken by the reporter (his father), while for the other child (he was able to be exchanged), he is not part of the case. For ML he has been sent home as well as NL. NL admitted that he had adopted the child (CHY) in a good way, so he did not exploit the child," he explained.

Previously, Anto reported his wife ML for allegedly practicing child trafficking. From the information obtained, ML is suspected of receiving money from NL worth Rp. 4 million to be able to take care of CHY because he did not have children. However, later, NL wanted to return it and asked for his money back.

Because he didn't have any money, ML allegedly offered to exchange his son CHY with AZ as long as he gave him an additional Rp1 million. A total of Rp5 million was received. This married couple has five children. Three of Anto's second husband, and two children from his first deceased husband.

Head of the PPA UPT DP3A Dalduk-KB of the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, Yessy Yoanna Ariestiani, responded quickly to the case because it was related to the alleged TPPO. His party even suggested that the steps to handle this child be taken by the PPA UPT together with the South Sulawesi Ministry of Social Affairs to fulfill their rights and growth.

But in its development, after undergoing mediation, the reporter as the victim's father decided to withdraw the report considering that the child had been found and had the desire to care for him.

"Although the report has been revoked, we still provide assistance to ensure that children's rights and their growth and development are well-rounded," said Yessy.

From the three biological children of the reporter, the first child was 4 years old and was previously with the reporter, the second child was 2 years old and was with his mother-in-law and the third child, the baby who was allegedly the victim of TPPO, had been secured from Jeneponto, the suspected NL's house.