William of the White Hand
Junior News Editor
Perth doctor will appeal after being found guilty of sexual assault
From: AAP
June 10, 2011 8:38PM
GUILTY: Royal Perth docvor Suhail Ahmad Khan Durani, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a patient.
A PERTH doctor has announced his intention to appeal after been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old patient while examining her at Royal Perth Hospital.
Suhail Ahmad Khan Durani, 35, acted swiftly after Judge Allan Fenbury found him guilty on three counts of indecently assaulting the woman by grabbing her breasts, and on two counts of digitally penetrating her, in the Perth District Court this morning.
The offences occurred at Royal Perth Hospital on February 20, 2010, when the diabetic woman was admitted with high blood sugar levels.
In a statement released this afternoon, Durani's lawyer George Papamihail said his client was: "deeply disappointed and shocked with the decision."
Mr Papmihail said he had been instructed to immediately review the decision and the court transcript, and "upon that review lodge an appeal in respect of the conviction."
"Dr Suhail Ahmad Khan Durani steadfastly insists he is innocent of all offences irrespective of the fact that he has been found guilty," Mr Papamihail said.
Judge Fenbury told the court the issue before him was ``primarily a case of one person's word against another''.
He noted the complainant suffered from Type 1 diabetes, asthma and depression, and used marijuana regularly.
``She does not look after her health and is careless of her lifestyle,'' Judge Fenbury said.
But he found that though she was ``a sick young woman'', she was not suffering from delirium on the day of the offences and had not ``maliciously made up allegations'', as Durani's defence counsel contended.
The judge found the woman was credible and plausible in her evidence.
He noted her tearful complaint to hospital staff within minutes of the sexual assaults after she realised ``he had been helping himself to her body and she had been letting him because she thought that was what was required''.
``I find I believe her beyond reasonable doubt,'' Judge Fenbury said.
In giving evidence, the woman said she had been sexually assaulted during two separate examinations by a ``dark-skinned doctor'' with crooked teeth who had also asked inappropriate questions about her sex life.
Durani in his evidence said he had asked the woman about her sexual relations in order to determine if she may have contracted any sexual infections.
Judge Fenbury said he found a defence contention that another person may have committed the offences as ``fanciful''.
Durani, wearing a suit and tie, sat quietly in the dock throughout and showed no emotion when the rulings were announced.
Judge Fenbury granted bail to Durani prior to sentencing next Tuesday, saying that because he had a wife and young son he would need time to make arrangements before an expected term of imprisonment.
He ordered that Durani, who is originally from India, surrender his passport.
After the ruling, Durani carried his son out of court to his lawyer's car and refused to comment to reporters.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wes...f-sexual-assault/story-e6frg13u-1226073035046
From: AAP
June 10, 2011 8:38PM
GUILTY: Royal Perth docvor Suhail Ahmad Khan Durani, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a patient.
A PERTH doctor has announced his intention to appeal after been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old patient while examining her at Royal Perth Hospital.
Suhail Ahmad Khan Durani, 35, acted swiftly after Judge Allan Fenbury found him guilty on three counts of indecently assaulting the woman by grabbing her breasts, and on two counts of digitally penetrating her, in the Perth District Court this morning.
The offences occurred at Royal Perth Hospital on February 20, 2010, when the diabetic woman was admitted with high blood sugar levels.
In a statement released this afternoon, Durani's lawyer George Papamihail said his client was: "deeply disappointed and shocked with the decision."
Mr Papmihail said he had been instructed to immediately review the decision and the court transcript, and "upon that review lodge an appeal in respect of the conviction."
"Dr Suhail Ahmad Khan Durani steadfastly insists he is innocent of all offences irrespective of the fact that he has been found guilty," Mr Papamihail said.
Judge Fenbury told the court the issue before him was ``primarily a case of one person's word against another''.
He noted the complainant suffered from Type 1 diabetes, asthma and depression, and used marijuana regularly.
``She does not look after her health and is careless of her lifestyle,'' Judge Fenbury said.
But he found that though she was ``a sick young woman'', she was not suffering from delirium on the day of the offences and had not ``maliciously made up allegations'', as Durani's defence counsel contended.
The judge found the woman was credible and plausible in her evidence.
He noted her tearful complaint to hospital staff within minutes of the sexual assaults after she realised ``he had been helping himself to her body and she had been letting him because she thought that was what was required''.
``I find I believe her beyond reasonable doubt,'' Judge Fenbury said.
In giving evidence, the woman said she had been sexually assaulted during two separate examinations by a ``dark-skinned doctor'' with crooked teeth who had also asked inappropriate questions about her sex life.
Durani in his evidence said he had asked the woman about her sexual relations in order to determine if she may have contracted any sexual infections.
Judge Fenbury said he found a defence contention that another person may have committed the offences as ``fanciful''.
Durani, wearing a suit and tie, sat quietly in the dock throughout and showed no emotion when the rulings were announced.
Judge Fenbury granted bail to Durani prior to sentencing next Tuesday, saying that because he had a wife and young son he would need time to make arrangements before an expected term of imprisonment.
He ordered that Durani, who is originally from India, surrender his passport.
After the ruling, Durani carried his son out of court to his lawyer's car and refused to comment to reporters.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wes...f-sexual-assault/story-e6frg13u-1226073035046