An Indonesian court has convicted 19 people over a baby-trafficking ring that procured babies for adoption, many of them destined for Singapore. The verdict resolves the criminal case but leaves uncertainty over the children’s future, particularly whether babies already adopted by Singaporean families should be returned to Indonesia or their biological parents.

The syndicate was found to have obtained at least 34 babies, with at least 12 sent to Singapore. Indonesian officials say the children’s legal status, biological identities and Singaporean proceedings still need examination, while child-rights groups argue that returning children to their biological parents should be the guiding principle; adoptive parents say they were unaware of any trafficking and want a swift decision based on the children’s best interests.