Military doctor aborted 10 babies a day

JAKARTA (JP): A military doctor has admitted to having aborted 10 babies a day in two clinics in Central Jakarta, the Jakarta Military Command Spokesman Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi said yesterday.

Nachrowi said the doctor, identified only as Lt. Col. JL, 48, had been detained since Saturday at the Jakarta Military Police Headquarters.

"During preliminary investigations, the suspect admitted to having an average of 10 patients a day for abortions in the two clinics," Nachrowi said.

He said JL, who is a doctor at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, provided abortions three and two days a week respectively at the Herlina and Amalia clinics, both on Jl. Tanah Tinggi from 4 p.m to 9 p.m.

"The suspect is from the Health Directorate of the Army, not a member of the Jakarta Military Command as reported by the media," he said.

He said the suspect had worked at Herlina clinic since 1987 and at Amalia clinic since 1995.

Nachrowi said JL would be brought to a military court and be charged under Article 299 and 348 of the Criminal Code and Article 124 of the Military Criminal Code.

The charge carries a maximum punishment of five years and six months in jail.

"But the suspect might also be dismissed if the court finds him guilty," Nachrowi said. Any soldier receiving from three months in jail for any offense can be dismissed from the military, he said.

Police have also detained JL's colleague, identified as Bud, 50, who also worked at the two clinics, he said.

Bud, who is a former member of the Army with a last rank of major, worked as a civil servant at the Tangerang General Hospital, he said.

Abortion at the clinics costs an average of between Rp 500,000 (US$138) to Rp 750,000, depending on the stage of the patients' pregnancies, he said.

Nachrowi confirmed that three civil servants from the Army hospital, who assisted JL at the two clinics, were detained at the North Jakarta Police Precinct.

He said the three suspects were a midwife, identified only as Sup, and two anesthetists, identified as Tab and Al.

Nachrowi said that Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin had ordered the Jakarta Military Police Chief to investigate the possibility of other military doctors being involved in illegal abortion practices. (jun)