A 38 year-old former nurse in Samoa who was convicted four years ago of procuring abortion, Akalita Apelu, has reappeared again in Apia's Supreme Court on the same criminal charge.
The mother of four, who had already completed a two and a half year jail sentence last year, has not entered a plea and remains in police custody until a hearing this week to decide on bail.
In 2004, Apelu pleaded guilty to one count of procuring abortion during her first case in the first case involving abortion to have been heard before the court in Samoa.
Abortion is illegal in Samoa except under rare medical and other circumstances when special court approval is required.
