University student held over abortion

RWAMAGANA - Police in Rwamagana district, are holding a 21-year old woman for allegedly carrying out an abortion. The first-year student in the department of Agriculture at Umutara Polytechnic, was arrested last weekend after a tip-off from residents who knew about the incident. She aborted the previous weekend and dumped the foetus in a pit latrine in Kigabiro Sector, Rwamagana District, according to the Police. “We were told about the incident a week after the abortion…so it was too late to save the baby’s life. However, the law will take its course,” Police said. Talking from the Police station, however, the suspect denied she aborted, claiming it was a miscarriage. According to the suspect, the miscarriage could have been induced by the traditional herbs she had taken earlier, “and the baby fell in the latrine by accident.” “Before I went to the toilet, I had felt stomach ache. This is when I witnessed the unexpected.” According to article 30 No. 27/2001 on children’s rights, the accused faces minimum of five years and maximum of 15 years in jail, upon conviction. Ends

National

University student held over abortion