Underground clinic raided in Chilaw:

Quack performed 7000 abortions in single month

by Prasad Poornamal

Chilaw police yesterday arrested a bogus doctor and four assistants following a raid on an underground abortion clinic.

Police also took into custody various instruments used in performing abortions. Although the bogus doctor has told police he possessed a medical degree from Russia, he had failed to produce any documents to prove it.

According to information obtained by police the "doctor" also operated four other abortion clinics at Hanwella, Ja-Ela and Avissawella. About 7000 abortions had been carried out only in the Chilaw clinic during the previous month. Police released the four assistants on Saturday while the main suspect was produced before the Chilaw Magistrate's court yesterday.

Police who had placed the "clinic" under surveillance for a few weeks prior to the raid, employed a decoy in the form of a woman Police constable who acted as a client. "Police raided the place after the bogus doctor agreed to perform the abortion on the woman constable. Police were tipped off by medical officers in the Wayamba province.