PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: A doctor accused of performing illegal abortions in Hua Hin municipality has reported to police and denied the charge.
Hua Hin Court on Tuesday approved a police request for a warrant for the arrest of Srisamai Chuachart, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Hua Hin Hospital and former director of Sam Roi Yot Hospital, on a charge of performing abortions in violation of Section 302 of the Criminal Code.
Dr Srisamai reported to police as required and denied the charge. She said she would testify only in court.
She was then granted police bail, with her job as a physician as bond.
The charge follows a police search on Feb 16 of five premises believed linked to the discovery of four discarded human foetuses in Hua Hin municipality on Feb 13.
The foetuses were found in two black plastic bags among the rubbish at Ruam Sook housing estate on Soi Chonlaprathan 68 by garbage collectors during their morning round.
A Hua Hin Hospital physician confirmed they had been aborted - two at 3-4 months, and the other two at 6-8 months.
The premises searched included the Srisamai Clinic, at the entrance of Soi Chumchon Samakkhee in the municipal area, owned by Dr Srisamai, and two residences she owned near the housing estate.
Police said evidence found included a motorcycle similar to that seen in CCTV footage showing an unidentified man carrying a black plastic bag leaving the clinic on a motorcycle.
Hua Hin police chief Pol Col Sitthichai Srisophacharoenrat said there was solid evidence against the doctor. He said police sought the arrest warrant after questioning women who admitted having the foetuses aborted.
Police also brought a charge of illegally destroying human foetuses against an employee of the clinic seen in the CCTV footage.
Medical Council of Thailand president Prasit Watanapa said if Dr Srisamai is found guilty by the court she would lose her membership automatically and the MCT would consider if she had violated any of the council's regulations.
