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Illegal abortion clinic reveals high demand amid shortage of formal facilities
Based on the 2009 Health Law abortion is allowed for pregnancies that pose a medical risk such as threatening the mother's or the baby's life or for pregnancy caused by a rape, which can lead to psychological trauma.
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A police line is hung outside a house in Jl. Paseban in Central Jakarta, that was allegedly used as an illegal abortion clinic. Police have named three suspects in the case in which around 900 pregnancies were reportedly terminated in the house. (Kompas.com/Cynthia Lova)
T
he illegal clinic, in which more than 900 pregnancies were terminated since 2018, that was uncovered by the Jakarta Police recently, shows the persistent demand for abortion in Jakarta, with experts calling for the government to provide better facilities for safe procedures.
Investigations are still ongoing into the clinic located on Jl. Paseban Raya in Senen district in Central Jakarta. Police arrested three suspects on Feb 11 for allegedly facilitating illegal abortions.
The suspects are a gynecologist identified only as MM aka A, RM a midwife and S a clinic staff member. Furthermore, Jakarta Police are also on the hunt for others alleged to be involved in the case, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said.
The police are currently looking for another gynecologist identified only as S, and two midwives, D and IO, Yusri said, adding that around 50 midwives were believed to have taken part in the operations at the clinic.
From initial investigation, Yusri said approximately 1,600 people had visited the clinic where 900 fetuses were terminated and dumped inside a septic tank along with a chemical substance.
"The next question is whether there are still other clinics linked to this one?" he told reporters after a press briefing on Tuesday. "The special crimes division has been looking into some clinics that may be similar to this one."
He said the clients of the clinic were mostly married women with unwanted pregnancies, single women and those who had employment contracts that banned them from getting pregnant.
