Student dies after abortion

Slamet Susanto The Jakarta Post Yogyakarta

A student at a private university in Yogyakarta, Rini Wulandari, died after undergoing an illegal abortion in the fifth month of her pregnancy, police said here on Tuesday.

The Sleman Police said they had detained Rini's boyfriend, Erik Heri Suryanto, and midwife Ngatirah, 55, who allegedly performed the abortion.

According to police, Ngatirah gave Rini, 22, a concoction of traditional medicine when the student came to her house in the village of Sardono in Ngaglik subdistrict, Sleman regency, on Friday night seeking an abortion.

The midwife asked Rini to return on Saturday. Accompanied by Erik, Rini came back to the midwife's house the following day, where her stomach was massaged by Ngatirah.

However, Rini began to hemorrhage and passed out. She was rushed to a hospital in Ngaglik.

Ngaglik Police chief Adj. Comr. Darwin S. Elipas said Rini was thought to have died while still in the midwife's house.

However, in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime, the victim was brought to the hospital, he said.

"According to the autopsy, she bled to death during the abortion," Darwin said.

He said the police investigation had found evidence that Ngatirah had performed abortions on at least four women.

"Ngatirah, the victim's boyfriend and Suryani (a broker) are being held for further questioning," he said.

Darwin said the three suspects could be charged with violating Article 348 of the Criminal Code on abortion, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.

Speaking to journalists, Ngatirah admitted to performing a number of abortions.

She said she generally charged patients Rp 1.5 million (about US$176) per abortion. But because Rini was a student, her abortion cost Rp 700,000, from which Rp 150,000 was given to Suryani as a fee.