It was 'love at first sight' with their adopted baby. Then they were told he may have been trafficked
When David and Ally first saw Marcus, they knew he was destined to be their son. "For me it was love at first sight," said
When David and Ally first saw Marcus, they knew he was destined to be their son. "For me it was love at first sight," said David. Their long adoption journey had come to an end. Months later, the baby from Indonesia was in their arms and the family was ready to start their life together. But now, years later, they face the possibility of losing Marcus because he is believed to have been trafficked into Singapore.
He is one of at least 20 babies alleged to have been illegally bought in Indonesia for adoption in Singapore in recent years. Nearly two dozen people have been arrested for alleged human trafficking last year and are now on trial in West Java. This means authorities may have to decide if Marcus and other children, who would by now have spent most of their lives in Singapore, should stay with their adoptive parents or return to their biological parents in Indonesia.
Both countries have yet to state what will happen to the children. For David and Ally, these last few months have been agonising. The high-profile case has highlighted the enduring problem of child trafficking in Indonesia, fuelled by parents who sell their children. It has also raised questions over how Singapore - known for its tight controls and meticulous checks - failed to detect the alleged trafficking and even approved some of the adoptions.
David and Ally agreed to share their story with the BBC on condition we use pseudonyms, as they fear jeopardising their chance to keep Marcus. "The anxiety is always there, at the back of our minds," said David. "There's always the thought that Marcus might be taken away."
The BriefWire