Doctor on trial for charges involving 14 men
A Christchurch doctor stands trial today in one of the most significant prosecutions brought against a New Zealand medical professional.
Rakesh Kumar Chawdhry, 62, pleaded not guilty to 15 charges of indecent assault and one of unlawful sexual connection ahead of the judge-alone trial in the Christchurch District Court.
The charges relate to 14 men, aged 21 to 38. Police allege the offending happened between 2011 and 2015 while he worked at the Riccarton Clinic.
Chawdhry will be represented by top Auckland lawyer Paul Wicks, QC, who last week declined to comment other than to reiterate his client had ‘‘pleaded not guilty to the charges and will be defending them’’.
The Crown is expected to call 25 witnesses, including complainants and experts, during the trial, which is set down for three weeks.
In May last year, The Press reported a man had complained to the Medical Council alleging Chawdhry was sexually inappropriate towards him during a consultation.
Police were unable to investigate because the complainant had not contacted them.
Privacy constraints meant the Medical Council could not share his details with other agencies.
After The Press’ article was published, police fielded several complaints about the doctor and launched an investigation.
The Riccarton Clinic then contacted Chawdhry’s former patients to see if there were others with concerns about his behaviour.
Chawdhry was arrested in June last year. He fought for name suppression, but it was declined and the media revealed his identity in December.
Riccarton Clinic general manager Marc Darvill previously said a patient made an allegation about Chawdhry to another clinic doctor during a consultation in December 2015. The Medical Council was alerted immediately.
Chawdhry, who had worked at the clinic on and off for several years as a self-employed contractor, was told not to see any more patients, Darvill said. His contract was later terminated.
Chawdhry, who has voluntarily stood down from practising, previously said the initial allegation against him was ‘‘either an overreaction or a complete fib’’.
He trained in India and moved to New Zealand with his family more than a decade ago.