Girl arrested in Aweil North for committing abortion

By Hou Akot Hou

Police in Aweil North County are holding a teenage girl in Mayen-Ulem payam on allegations of committing abortion.

Diing Aher Ngong, the Mayen-Ulem payam police inspector told Juba Echo over the weekend that they are holding a 16-year suspect.

  “She was brought from Makuac-Deng Ayom village as a sick person with her mother. On her arrival to Mayen-PHCU she was put on injection and eventually she was released to go home. After a short while a baby was found buried near the PHCU, the hospital management did thorough check and suspected her after her release,” Aher said.

He said the incident happened on Friday.

Aher said they decided to apprehend the suspect after being alerted by the health care unit.

He revealed that the suspect on being interrogated admitted to carrying out abortion.

Aher appealed to parents to always be vigilant on young girls who move at night.

William Atak Garang, Clinical Officer at the Mayen-Ulem Primary health care unit, said the girl and her mother received treatment at the health center but escaped from the facility.

“We found the baby dumped near the vicinity of the hospital. I started phoning the police and they immediately helped us apprehend the accused patient, they brought her and we carried out the tests and we ascertained that she was the one,” Atak said.

Abortion is illegal under South Sudan laws with the exception of life-threatening situations.