Woman who procured medicine to aid friend’s abortion appeals conviction

A Moroccan woman, who was convicted of aiding a friend’s abortion by procuring a cocktail of medicines on her behalf, has today filed an appeal, claiming that the police misguided her into admitting the charges.

On 24 November, Soumia Mansouri admitted to procuring the medicines for her Tunisian friend Raya Stellini Zammit and was sentenced to 18 months in jail suspended for three years.

However, in her appeal, Mansouri is claiming that in reality, her friend’s pregnancy was never confirmed and that medical tests revealed that there was no foetus inside her body.

As a result of the “incorrect information,” Mansouri argued that her right to full disclosure was violated by police and her subsequent admission was vitiated. Signed by defence lawyer Roberto Montalto, the appeal further called on the appeals’ court to revoke the guilty plea and to acquit Mansouri of all charges.

On her part, Mansouri’s friend, 30-year-old Raya Stellini Zammit, was last week given a two-year jail term suspended for four years after she admitted to taking a number of pills at an apartment in Fgura to cause the abortion.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto signed the appeal, while Inspectors Joseph Busuttil and Spiridione Zammit are leading the prosecution.