The sexual assault case of a 72-year-old former Yorkton Obstetrician-Gynecologist has been adjourned until March 28 to allow the defence a chance to examine the Crown’s disclosure.
Dr. Mohammed Haque is charged with six counts of sexual assault dating to 2001.
Haque did not appear in person at his court appearance February 22, but a defence attorney appeared on his behalf by telephone.
At a press conference February 18, Staff Sgt. Greg Nichol, commander of the Yorkton municipal detachment of the RCMP, said investigators traveled to London, Ontario and arrested Dr. Haque at his home on February 2.
During a lengthy investigation, 12 women came forward with allegations of sexual assault.
All of the offences allegedly took place between 2001 and 2008 and all the victims were adults at the time of the assaults, Nichol said. The assaults took place within the doctor’s practice, but aside from the victims all being patients, there were no other connection or similarities between them, he said.
He commended the women for coming forward, saying they were “brave” to do so.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) had already sanctioned Haque on similar charges in April of 2013.
“Dr. Haque was charged with unprofessional conduct,” a CPSS summary of completed cases states. “Five of the charges alleged sexually improper behaviour with patients. The matter was resolved when Dr. Haque agreed to relinquish his licence and not to practise medicine in the future.”
A spokesperson for the college said CPSS cooperated with the police on the criminal investigation.
Nichol also used the opportunity of talking to the provincial media to ask other potential victims to come forward. He would not say how many investigators suspect might be unaccounted for.
At the Monday hearing Judge Ross Green issued a publication ban to protect the identity of the victims.
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