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Sunday, December 15, 2024

SL Doctor in Australia banned from practice after sexual assaults on patients

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A pervert doctor who sexually assaulted six vulnerable patients under the guise of medical consultations has been banned from practice for at least 15 years.

Nishanka Sanjeewa Kirumbara Liyanage was a GP at a Banksia Grove family practice when he assaulted the women, aged between 20 and 55, between December 2016 and March 2017.

His crimes came to light after a 24-year-old pregnant woman complained to police soon after he massaged her breasts and nipples during a consultation in March 2017.

And five more women then emerged with their own horrific tales, including a 27-year-old woman who told how the doctor touched her breasts after she told him she was suffering from recurring migraines.

Another woman testified she had seen Liyanage on a number of occasions when he would call her beautiful and ask if he could hug and kiss her.

Liyanage was eventually found guilty of sex charges following a judge-alone trial last year.

He was jailed for four years.

The former doctor maintained his innocence and took his case to the WA Court of Appeal in a bid to clear his name.

In those arguments, he claimed one of his victims was “was an inherently inaccurate and unreliable witness, due to her intellectual disability”.

But three judges at WA’s highest court unanimously dismissed his appeal against his convictions, which include sexual penetration without consent and indecent assault.

Now, the State Administrative Tribunal has handed down its own verdict on the disgraced doctor.

Finding him guilty of professional misconduct, the Medical Board of Australia cancelled Kirumbara Liyanage’s registration.

In their summary of his conduct, the Medical Board pointed out that each of the doctor’s victims was either very young, vulnerable, or both.

They also banned him from applying for a new registration for 15 years.

Kirumbara Liyanage is also banned from providing any health service – whether paid or unpaid – for a period of 15 years.

Liyanage was eligible for parole in August last year. During his sentencing hear, it was revealed that he was likely to be deported to his native Sri Lanka after his release. (The West – Australia)

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