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Trial Date For Doctor In Molestation Case To Be Set

A P Kamath

One of the most publicized cases of alleged sexual misconduct in Canada is expected to go to trial early next month. If found guilty, he faces over 10 years in prison.

Dr Allan Umar Khitab, who used to be the only full-time psychiatrist attached to a hospital in Cambridge, made his second court appearance on October 28 since being charged with 11 counts of sexual misconduct against five young boys, several months ago.

Khitab refuses to comment about the allegations.

The 62-year-old, Pakistan-born and British-trained psychiatrist began his medical career in England working with Indian and Pakistani communities.

He also worked for several mainstream hospitals in Scotland where he faced 23 counts of sexual misconduct 20 years ago. The trial was thrown out of court for lack of evidence. From there he went to Saskatchewan, and then New Brunswick before settling in Cambridge in 1989. In each province, allegations were made against him to the police departments. He was never convicted of any offense.

Canadian authorities who initially hired him ignored the case in Scotland because he was not found guilty. They did not inform the Cambridge Memorial Hospital where he has worked for over a decade about the incidents either.

Dr Khitab, who faces four counts of sexual assault, five counts of sexual exploitation, and one count each of sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching against five young boys over a five-year period, is under suspension at CMH. Between 1989 and 1994, boys ages 12-16 were allegedly assaulted by the doctor on the grounds of Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

A number of other cases against Dr Khitab are coming into light, even though he had been acquitted of them.

When Dr Khitab was a staff psychiatrist from 1987-89, before coming to Cambridge, a 22-year-old male made a formal complaint against him. But the allegation could not be proved in court.

EARLIER FEATURES:
Pakistan-born Psychiatrist in Canada Charged with Sexual Misconduct

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