Doctor off hook for sex crimes – for now

SEXUAL assault charges were withdrawn against a well-known East London paediatrician in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday after the state could not decide if they had a case.

Magistrate Rochelle Sam decided not to grant the National Prosecuting Authority a further extension on the case.

This was after state prosecutor Asanda Nolusu told the magistrate that the state was still waiting for a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Grahamstown as to whether or not to prosecute the doctor.

His lawyer, Angus Pringle, objected to another postponement, arguing the matter had been on the roll since June. Pringle said the state was given two months from August to acquire the DPP’s decision.

Nolusu said there was no indication why a decision had not yet been reached although DPP was aware of the case.

Pringle refused to budge and demanded that the case be struck off the roll. He said the state could reinstate the charges once they were ready to prosecute.

However, he added, he was still unaware of the charges being preferred against his client.

The magistrate agreed to withdraw the charges.

The 64-year-old doctor was arrested earlier this year for allegedly fondling the private parts of his patients’ mothers during consultations in his Beacon Bay practice.

The state had initially lined up at least three witnesses to testify against the doctor.

Two of the complainants were mothers aged 23 and 26 who had visited the practice with their young children.

According to the charge sheet, the Beacon Bay-based paediatrician faced two counts of sexual assault. — the