Christchurch doctor sentenced for sex offences against patients

  • 21/02/2018

A Christchurch doctor accused of commiting sexual offences against his patients has been sentenced to more than four years in prison.

Christchurch GP Rakesh Chawdhry, 62, has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison.

In January he was found guilty of 12 sex offences committed against patients he was treating while working at Riccarton Clinic from 2011 to 2015. 

Chawdhry appeared via audio visual link in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday afternoon.

He will be eligible for parole at one third of his sentence and must pay the victims $22,000 in reperations.

The charges were against men he treated while working at Riccarton Clinic from 2011 to 2015. The men alleged Chawdhry handled them inappropriately during physical examination.

Chawdhry denies the allegations. He wiped away tears during sentencing.

Judge Jane Farish said sexual violation of a matter of seconds had a lasting impact on the victims.

One victim felt "embarrassed" and "ashamed" and had trusted Chawdhry, Judge Farish said.

Judge Farish said Chawdhry was remorseful to the extent he felt bad about harming the men and was beginning to appreciate the effect his offending had on the men.

"You are sorry to that. But not remorseful in the true sense you accept reliability for your offending. You've been in denial in relation to your offending."

Newshub.