Suspect admits fetuses dumped in septic tank<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The owner of an alleged abortion clinic,
\nHerlina, has admitted dumping fetuses of up to four months
\ngestation in the clinic's septic tank, a police officer said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The officer, who did not want to be named, said the 45-year-
\nold nurse claimed that older fetuses were usually buried at
\nseveral locations, including the grounds of her Fajar Pengharapan
\nClinic on Jl. Tanah Tinggi IV in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said Herlina also conceded that her fees for the procedure
\nwere at least twice as cheap as those set by her colleagues in
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"She asked for about Rp 250,000 (US$71) to abort a pregnancy
\nwith a gestation of two to three months, Rp 350,000 for four
\nmonths and Rp 500,000 for five months. She charged higher fees
\nfor fetuses in the final trimester.\"<\/p>\n
Another suspect, Kampret, who was allegedly hired by Herlina
\nto dump the infants, told police interrogators that about 10
\nbabies were aborted every day at Herlina's clinic during the past
\ntwo years, the source said.<\/p>\n
Kampret, who was paid Rp 10,000 per task, also worked for
\nnearby Amalia Clinic, which is allegedly owned by Kurniasih,
\nanother suspect, he said.<\/p>\n
The two clinics have dumped hundreds of aborted babies, the
\nofficer quoted Kampret as saying.<\/p>\n
Herlina allegedly told interrogators that she ran the business
\nin cooperation with six other clinics in North and Central
\nJakarta, especially in the Cikini area.<\/p>\n
As of yesterday, 14 people, including two doctors, have been
\ndetained by the city police for their alleged role in abortions
\nand the dumping of fetuses and babies.<\/p>\n
Police are still searching for other suspects who have been
\nidentified following the discovery of 11 fetuses and babies in
\nWarakas, North Jakarta, late last month.<\/p>\n
Three of the dumped bodies were allegedly from Amalia Clinic,
\nwhile the remaining came from Herlina's.<\/p>\n
The latest suspect in the case was identified as Ester, an
\nassistant at both Herlina's and the Amalia clinic. She was
\napprehended Monday evening.<\/p>\n
One of the suspects is a lieutenant colonel who also works as
\na doctor.<\/p>\n
During interrogation, he allegedly admitted aborting about 10
\nbabies per day at the two clinics.<\/p>\n
Following the detention of the suspects, most of whom turned
\nthemselves in to police, forensic experts from National Police
\nHeadquarters and Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital have amassed
\na pile of \"tiny\" bones and skulls unearthed at Herlina's clinic
\nand a school for disabled children in Menteng, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
According to Cipto's forensic doctor Budi Sampurna, the bones
\nbelong to dozens of babies.<\/p>\n
The precise number has not been determined because \"counting
\nis continuing\", he said.<\/p>\n
Budi said that most of the fetuses were less than seven months
\ngestation and they may have been buried in recent weeks rather
\nthan years or months ago.<\/p>\n
He called on the city police to stop searching for more bones
\nbecause it was \"a waste of time and energy\".<\/p>\n
\"Police don't have to continue. (The evidence) is enough
\nalready.<\/p>\n
\"If police require accurate evidence, they could seize the
\nclinics' admission books and other related documents that could
\nprovide further details about the real number of victims.\"<\/p>\n
Cipto's forensic team has taken DNA from some of the bodies,
\nhoping that it could help establish maternity and ensure the
\nmothers are prosecuted, he said.<\/p>\n
In a related development yesterday, chairman of the Jakarta
\nbranch of Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), Agus Purwadianto,
\nsaid the association's ethics honorary board had issued a
\nstatement about the implicated doctors.<\/p>\n
\"It's clear enough to us now that those doctors were merely
\naborting fetuses to earn money or for related business reasons.<\/p>\n
\"Those doctors will face accusations on three different
\nlevels, namely criminal charges, ethical violations and from the
\nhealth department for the misuse of their licenses.\"<\/p>\n
A city councilor urged the Jakarta Health Office to be more
\nselective in handing out licenses to clinics and midwives in a
\nbid to reduce the number of abortion practices.<\/p>\n
The secretary of Commission D for welfare affairs, Agus
\nWaluyo, said the health office should ensure applicants are
\nskilled enough and would not misuse their training.<\/p>\n
Agus said that control had been lax in the past.<\/p>\n
\"The office is so passive that it only receives reports and
\nnever checks the reports on the spot.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, it's easy to monitor malpractice if the office is
\nactively controlling the certification of clinics and midwives,\"
\nhe said. (cst\/04\/ind)<\/p>",
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