Kurunegala doctor: More revelations surface on illegal sterilization

COLOMBO (News 1st): Over 10 complaints have been lodged against Dr Seigu Siyabdeen Mohamed Saafi who was arrested at the Kurunegala teaching hospital, for carrying out illegal sterilization procedures. He was arrested on the 24th of this month following a police investigation. Apart from 17 land deeds and wealth of Rs. 400 million was identified as owned by the doctor. The Police said that they have received information that the doctor had not carried out the ligation and resection of tubes or LRT operation on Muslim women, that should be carried out after a third Cesarean but had compiled forged documents stating that the LRT was carried out. A nurse attached to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, lodging a complaint with the Director of the Hospital said that Dr Seigu Siyabdeen Mohamed Saafi had removed her womb following a cesarean surgery. The nurse charges that the doctor in question had performed a cesarean on her on March 4th and was admitted to the hospital once again after several days due to health complications. Thereafter she was taken to the operating theatre following a scan by the said doctor and she was taken to the operating theatre. In a letter written to the hospital director, she said that she later got to know about the removal of her womb. Information has also come to light about an attempt made by the suspicious doctor to change the name of a mother and attempting to hand over her child to another party. The administrative officer of the hospital has conducted a preliminary investigation in this regard and has found evidence to prove that the doctor in question had attempted to hand over a newborn baby to a third party in an illegal manner by forging documents. Police media spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara speaking on the matter requested the public to lodge complaints against the doctor if any for conducting sterilization surgeries without consent at the CID.