Abortion charge: Court releases detained Indian lady doctor

Manama : An Indian lady doctor who was detained for more than 40 days over illegal abortion charges has been released by the court untill the final verdict in the case is pronounced on May 31.

The woman was arrested by the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science, in cooperation with the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) on March 23. The Eighth High Criminal Court ordered to release the woman considering her health condition, as she suffers from chronic diseases. She was released on last Sunday after the court order.

“After the police were tipped-off about the illegal operations, investigation was launched and the suspect was identified and arrested,” the directorate had stated then, adding that large quantities of illegal abortion drugs and money were seized from the woman’s residence.

According to court files, the 67-year-old Indian doctor was accused of importing drugs without a license, possession of unregistered medicines in Bahrain and storing medicines in an unauthorised location.

Interestingly, the illegal abortion charge that she was initially accused of has been dropped off now. It was also revealed in the court that the accused has been practising medicine at a private hospital in Muharraq for the past 11 years. She had also worked in Saudi Arabia for 9 years.

The defence attorney told the judges that the confiscated drugs were used for ulcers and that she possessed them for personal use, and no witnesses testified purchase of any drugs from her.