Foetus probe leads cops to medic’s clinic

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: Police have searched a doctor’s clinic and four other properties in Hua Hin district to find clues as to who dumped four foetuses next to a convenience store in the resort town on Tuesday.

The foetuses were found wrapped in adult nappies and dumped in a bin outside the store in the Ruamsuk community in Chonlaprathan Soi 68.

Two — a male and female — were believed to have been aborted between six and eight months into pregnancy. Another two were between three and four months.

Hua Hin Hospital confirmed the foetuses were terminated via illegal abortions.

Prachuap Khiri Khan police commander Pattana Pesayanawin ordered his deputy, Pol Col Damrongsak Thong-ngamtrakul to mount raids on five locations suspected of being connected to the abortions on Thursday evening.

The first raid targeted a general practitioner’s clinic at the mouth of Soi Pracha Samakkee.

The police team presented a search warrant to a female doctor who claimed to own the clinic. Several people were seen receiving treatment there.

Several items were seized for testing during the search.

The doctor was then taken to two homes she owned in the area for further searches.

Another police team searched a house belonging to the doctor’s sister. The sister has a son who works at the clinic, police said.

Found at the house was a motorcycle which looked like one driven by a man caught on CCTV footage carrying a black plastic bag from the clinic, according to police. Adult nappies and black plastic bags were also retrieved from the house.

Police also searched a house in Moo 14 of tambon Thap Tai, where they found four leather mattresses, eight blankets, used surgical gloves, a large amount of hydrochloric acid as well as 2,900 medical records.

Police said the acid is commonly used to clean away bloodstains.

The doctor was taken to Hua Hin police station for questioning.