POLICE in Svay Rieng province have arrested and detained a woman accused of operating an unlicenced abortion clinic out of her home, local officials said.

Deputy provincial police Chief Kuy Sopheap said that Ream Koeun, 50, from Doempor village in Svay Teap district, was arrested and detained Thursday after the provincial Health Department filed a complaint accusing her of offering black-market abortions.

Dr Nhek Chamnan, manager of mortality and child health programmes at the department, said officials filed a complaint after Long Peakdey, 27, who was five months pregnant, was seriously injured in a botched abortion at Ream Koeun’s home.

“We warned her to stop operating the illegal abortion business several times since 2009, but she ignored it,” he said.

Keo Sothea, the provincial court prosecutor, said the case was part of a broader effort to eliminate unlicenced abortion clinics in Svay Rieng and the rest of the country.

“We are considering investigating and collecting the proof to punish the suspect,” he said.