Police in Botswana are investigating an incident in which a 16-year-old girl is alleged to have committed abortion with the alleged help of her 19-year-old boyfriend.
Confirming the incident, Letlhakane Station Commander Michael Maphephu said that last week they arrested a 19-year–old young man in connection with defilement after he allegedly assisted his teenage girlfriend to terminate pregnancy.
He said that prior to the young man’s arrest, his office received a report from Letlhakane primary hospital starting that a teenage girl was brought in by her parents and she was suspected to have terminated her pregnancy.
He also said that the teenage girl arrived at the hospital bleeding profusely and experiencing abnormal stomach pains.
According to the police boss, the girl later confirmed to have swallowed abortion pills to terminate the pregnancy.
Maphephu further said that during interrogation the teenage girl told them that she was pregnant and his boyfriend convinced her to purchase ‘abortion pills’ in order to terminate the pregnancy.
He further said that investigations led to a 25-year-old Motswana woman based in here (Francistown) who allegedly sold abortion pills to the young couple.
Police investigations in the role played by the alleged elderly woman who aided the teenage couple to obtain abortion pills are continuing.
The police investigations were boosted by the recovery of “eight pills” suspected to be abortion pills found in the woman’s dwelling house.
The discovery follows the police’s thorough search in the woman’s house.
Maphephu said the teenage girl is still recovering from the hospital while the 19-year-old young man is facing defilement charges and is further remanded in custody.
