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Accused doctor released on bail

Boy allegedly sexually assaulted early Monday morning in hospital

WINNIPEG -- A doctor at the Health Sciences Centre accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy has been granted bail this morning in a Winnipeg courtroom.

Walid Abdelhamid, 29, is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation in connection with an assault on the boy.  He had been in custody since Tuesday afternoon.

The alleged assaults occurred between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Monday morning at Children's Hospital.

A judge placed conditions on the doctor's bail this morning. Included in the conditions are that Abdelhamid has a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. where he must stay at his apartment. He has to turn in his passport to the court and can't attend any medical facilities unless seeking medical attention for himself.

He is also not allowed to have contact with people under the age of 16 or attend any playgrounds, school or swimming areas.

The accused also posted a $5,000 surety to the court.

The doctor had worked for two years at the hospital, where the boy was a patient.

Health officials say there are no previous abuse complaints from patients Abdelhamid treated.

Abdelhamid, a post-graduate medical resident at the University of Manitoba, is in Canada from Libya as part of a visa trainee agreement, according to a statement from the school. He is now suspended indefinitely from his job at HSC, a hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Abdelhamid was licensed to see and treat patients at the hospital and did work with children, she said, but hospital officials have not identified precisely where in the hospital he worked.

Police asked reporters not to publish the age of the youth involved for fear of identifying him.

Family of the boy declined to comment Wednesday.

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