Four fetuses dumped in North Jakarta

Four fetuses dumped in North Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Four fetuses were found in plastic bags under a
flyover on Jl. Warakas, Tanjung Priok, in North Jakarta yesterday
afternoon.

Witnesses said that a 15-year-old student, identified as Heri,
made the discovery only 200 meters away from where 11 aborted
fetuses and dead babies were found last year.

The bags are believed to have been dumped by people driving in
a Kijang van.

The fetuses were sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital
for postmortem examination.

Abdul Mun'im Idries, a forensic expert at the hospital, said
the fetuses ranged between 16 and 28 weeks old.

"The fetuses were aborted using medical equipment and it
appears that anesthetists were also used," he told reporters at
his office.

Medical equipment was found alongside the fetuses in the
plastic bags.

"The abortions were conducted less than 24 hours before the
fetuses were discovered," he said.

Meanwhile, North Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Rismawan said
that he planned to investigate the case thoroughly.

"I will personally take care of this investigation because as
an officer of the law I have a moral obligation to solve this
case," he said.

Rismawan said the police had found some clues in the area
where the bags were dumped and had a suspect in the case.

"But please wait for further results. I will make a public
statement when the time is right," he said, refusing to
elaborate.

When asked by reporters about the suspects identity, he
answered: "We have some idea. Let's hope that we can catch the
person soon."

The discovery of the 11 dead babies and aborted fetuses on Jl.
Warakas last year sparked a prolonged public debate on abortion.

An obstetrician, identified as Budiman, 51, is currently
indicted at the Central Jakarta District Court on charges of
practicing illegal abortion.

Abortion is strictly prohibited under the Criminal Code.

Article 346 stipulates that a woman who has an abortion will
face a maximum penalty of four years in jail.

A doctor or medic who conducts an abortion without the
patient's consent can be jailed for up to 12 years. If the
patient dies as a result of the operation, Article 347 allows the
doctor to be incarcerated for up to a maximum of 15 years.

If the abortion is conducted at the patient's request, the
practitioner will face a maximum penalty of five years and six
months in jail, or seven years if the patient dies.

But 1992 Health Law No. 23 allows abortion to be carried out
if a woman's health is jeopardized by the pregnancy, provided the
operation is carried out by a qualified doctor. (ivy/edt)