Remains of aborted fetuses to be checked<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Lebak Police subprecinct in West Java plan to
\nsend the remains of 54 aborted fetuses found buried at a
\nresidential property in the area to National Police Headquarters
\nin Jakarta for a forensic examination on Monday, an officer said
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
Lebak Police chief Lt. Col. Sulistiyono said the examination
\nat the National Police forensic laboratory was needed to build a
\ncase over the abortions allegedly committed by local resident
\nWidah Wiratnasih, in her 40s.<\/p>\n
"We need to know, for example, the estimated ages of the
\nfetuses, before we can proceed with our investigation,"
\nSulistiyono told The Jakarta Post by phone on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The fetuses, believed to have been aborted at between two and
\nnine months, were found on Aug. 28 buried in the backyard of
\nWidah's residence in Cikotok village.<\/p>\n
Abortion is a crime in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
During preliminary questioning, Widah, who practiced as a
\nmidwife in the village, admitted to have begun burying the
\nfetuses in 1997, when she started aborting unwanted babies for
\nwomen.<\/p>\n
Sulistiyono said the suspects statement would be checked
\nagainst the results of the forensic tests in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
According to police, Widah said some of her clients came from
\nother areas, including Jakarta, and she received Rp 1 million
\n(US$127) per client.<\/p>\n
Local police detectives are checking the possibility of the
\ninvolvement of other people in the business, Sulistiyono said.<\/p>\n
Police so far suspect a relative of Widah, identified only as
\nUci, to have been involved in the abortion practices, the officer
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
But Sulistiyono refused to elaborate on Uci's suspected role.<\/p>\n
The officer said the discovery of bones in the tiny backyard
\nof Widah's home were based on a tip-off from neighbors over her
\nalleged role as a buyer of stolen motorcycles.<\/p>\n
When police searched her house, they found two of the
\nreportedly stolen bikes and also the remains.<\/p>\n
"In the beginning, we found only seven remains. We conducted
\nanother search the next day as I suspected that there would be
\nmore remains there," Sulistiyono explained.<\/p>\n
The fetuses were said to have been buried about 20 centimeters
\nbelow ground, making it an easy task for the officers to dig them
\nout.<\/p>\n
Conducting and helping with abortions are punishable under
\nArticles 348 and 349 of the Criminal Code. The articles carry a
\nmaximum penalty of five years and six months, and the possible
\nrevocation of any medical licenses.<\/p>\n
Late in 1997, the country was rocked by the discovery of 11
\nfetuses wrapped in three plastics bags at a garbage dump on Jl.
\nWarakas in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, and several others in
\nthe backyard of a school for disabled children and a clinic site
\nin Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Police named at least 13 people as being involved, including
\nstaff from the clinic and a doctor, who is also an Army
\nlieutenant colonel. (03\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/remains-of-aborted-fetuses-to-be-checked-1447893297",
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