This article has been updated to reflect the accused's actual age.
A 72-year-old former Yorkton Obstetrician-Gynecologist has been charged with six counts of sexual assault dating to 2001.
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. Mohammed Haque at his home on February 2.
During a lengthy investigation 12 women came forward with allegations of sexual assault.
All of the offences 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 between them, he said.
He commended the women for coming forward, saying they were “brave” to do so.
Haque had already been sanctioned by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) 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."
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 they suspect might be unaccounted for.
Haque will make his first appearance in Yorkton Provincial Court, Monday, February 22.
Please see the February 24 print edition of Yorkton This Week for further details.
