Victims pleased HoD suspended pending investigation

PETALING JAYA: Those who claimed they were sexually harassed by a head of department (HoD) are relieved that the specialist has been suspended for two months pending investigation.

However, they said a complete revocation of the doctor’s medical licence would be a just and fair closure of the case.

“I hope the investigations will be thorough and that he will be deregistered as a doctor, if possible.

“I hope too that no specialists or medical officers are transferred to another hospital because of one person’s wrongdoings,” said a victim.

Another victim said she hoped the two-month suspension would lead to justice for the victims.

“Our greatest fear is that he will still be working because we all know he can make our lives miserable as we victims have spent four months or more being harassed emotionally and sexually by him,” she said.

“For someone who tortured each of us in different aspects, I only can hope after these two months that they can come up with a verdict fit enough for his crimes,” she said.

She said a fitting punishment for the HoD would also send a message that sexual harassment should not be tolerated in any profession.

“Sexual harassment cannot be taken lightly in our medical profession or in any other professions.

“Putting an end to (the careers of ) people like him will remind other superiors not to take advantage of us in such a manner,” she added.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, who is the victims’ lawyer, said the victims need not necessarily have to make a police report against the accused although it was normally desirable to do so.

“A police report does not necessarily have to come from the victims.

“The independent inquiry body is duty-bound to lodge a police report if they find criminal elements in the case during the course of the inquiry,” he said.

He said in the past there had been sexual harassment cases that were prosecuted under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which states that whoever assaults another person with the intention to outrage the modes- ty of the person should be punished.

However, Ramkarpal added that sexual harassment must be properly defined to also include verbal and emotional abuse as well so that tighter, specific laws could be put in place to tackle the issue.

“In Singapore, they have legislation to deal with sexual harassment, and it encompasses extensive and specific instances of sexual harassment,” he said.

Singapore has the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 to tackle the sexual harassment issue.