Nurse jailed for abortion

Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Kanifing Magistrate’s Court yesterday, convicted and sentenced Dam Jeng, a nurse at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH), to two years imprisonment with hard labour, without any option of a fine.
Dam, 42, was found guilty by the court on charges of carrying out an illegal abortion on Mariama Tierera, a Grade Ten student from Old Jeshwang, whose pregnancy at the time of the abortion was two months old.

Handing down his judgement in a crowded courtroom yesterday, Magistrate Jammeh told the accused that, “what he did was unspeakable and unpardonable”. He told him that he deserved to be punished in order to deter others from committing such gruesome acts, adding that he (Dam) cannot be allowed to carry out his unprofessional experiments on precious bodies of women.

“Only God knows how many of these kinds of operations you have carried out in your so-called house,” Magistrate Jammeh told Dam.
Magistrate Jammeh further told him that for one to become a doctor, one needs to be trained and certified, adding that during official working hours he (Dam) is recognised as a nurse, but back in his house, Dam turns himself into a doctor.

Magistrate Jammeh then reminded him of the old adage that ‘no matter how long a log stays in the river it would never turn into a crocodile’.
He then convicted and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with hard labour.

Dam is married with two wives and nine children.

Mariama Tierera and Sedat Bangura her boy friend were granted bail, as both pleaded not guilty. Counsel Gomez was representing Dam Jeng and Mariema Tierera.

The case continues.