Obstetrician on trial for illegal abortions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An obstetrician, identified as Budiman, 51, was
\nindicted at the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday on
\ncharges of illegal abortion practices.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Andi Tjudai said the defendant performed abortions
\nat Herlina and Amalia clinics in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta,
\nbetween 1989 and last November.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant performed abortions without taking into
\nconsideration requirements in Article 15 of the Health Law No.
\n23\/1992, which states that an abortion must constitute an
\nemergency intended mainly to save a mother's life or that of a
\nbaby's,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The law also states that an abortion should be approved by the
\npregnant mother and her husband or relatives, she said.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant performed abortions on women mostly without any
\nmedical cause. His customers consisted mainly of unmarried
\npregnant women or married women who simply did not want their
\nbabies,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Andi said six women whose babies were allegedly aborted by the
\ndefendant would testify against the defendant. The women were
\nidentified as Nurul Yusnita, Suciati, Hilda Mulyono, Uci Anasih,
\nIka Rosita and Habibah.<\/p>\n
Budiman wore his white doctor's uniform into the courtroom,
\nwhich was crowded. He was accompanied by six lawyers, including
\nTommy Sihotang, Ruhut Sitompul and Petrus Balapattyona.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said the defendant received 60 percent of the
\nabortion fees, while the remaining 40 percent was for the owners
\nof the clinics.<\/p>\n
Andi said a patient paid between Rp 150,000 (US$18.75) and Rp
\n1 million depending on the duration of pregnancy.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant aborted 10 babies to 15 babies a day,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She said the defendant was assisted by seven people: the
\nowners of the two clinics identified as Herlina and Kurniasih,
\nfour paramedics Surtini, Yuli Budianti, Praptiningsih and Halimi
\nand anesthetist Achmad Tabrani.<\/p>\n
Andi charged Budiman under Article 80 (1) of Health Law No.
\n23\/1992, which carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in jail
\nand a fine of up to Rp 500 million.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Abas Sumantri adjourned the trial for 10 days,
\nwhen statements from the defendant's lawyers will be heard.<\/p>\n
Tommy Sihotang, one of the defendant's lawyers, said outside
\nthe courthouse that the police and the prosecutor's office had no
\nright to try the case.<\/p>\n
\"Since it's a medical case. It should be first examined by the
\nMedical Code of Ethics Council of the Indonesian Doctors
\nAssociation,\" Tommy said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the same court also heard a statement yesterday
\nfrom lawyers of Kurniasih, the owner of Amalia Clinic, who was
\nindicted on the same charges as Budiman.<\/p>\n
Nazarudin Lubis, one of the lawyers, denied that Kurniasih
\nperformed abortions, saying she had no formal knowledge on the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant is not a doctor. All the medical treatment was
\ndone by doctors and paramedics. How can she be accused of
\npracticing abortions?\" Nazarudin said.<\/p>\n
He said the defendant opened her clinic legally and had
\noutfitted it with equipment required by the city office of the
\nMinistry of Health. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/obstetrician-on-trial-for-illegal-abortions-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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