Walk-in clinic doctor faces 8 new sex-assault charges

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/11/2017 (2952 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba doctor is alleged to have sexually assaulted nine of his patients, and Winnipeg police say more women may yet come forward.

Two weeks after he was arrested on one count of sexual assault, Dr. Amir Houshang Mazhariravesh, 51 — known professionally as Amir Ravesh — was charged with eight additional counts in connection with incidents dating to 2013.

“All involved female patients,” Winnipeg Police Service Const. Jay Murray told reporters Friday morning. “I don’t know if there’s a pattern beyond that.”

Late last month, Murray announced police had arrested Ravesh after a 19-year-old went to a hospital seeking medical treatment following an Oct. 19 visit to an Elmwood-area walk-in clinic.

Ravesh turned himself in and was charged with sexual assault. He was released on a promise to appear.

At the time, Murray described the case as “chilling” and encouraged any other potential victims to come forward. Several women did.

This week, police arrested Ravesh again and charged him with eight additional counts of sexual assault involving allegations from eight separate women ranging in age from 24 to 69.

The incidents are alleged to have happened between 2013 and last month. He has also been charged with one count of obtaining sexual services for consideration.

Ravesh was detained in custody in light of the new allegations, none of which have been proven in court.

While Murray couldn’t speak to the specifics of each incident, he said the original victim had expressed concern people might not believe her. He’s hopeful the news of additional people coming forward will help ease some of those worries.

“This investigation certainly isn’t over,” Murray said.

“We don’t know if this press conference may encourage any others to come forward.”

Ravesh’s case first came to light last month, after a 19-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted by the doctor in a treatment room at the You! Medical Centre (359 Johnson Ave. W.).

It was not her first time with that doctor at that clinic, a police spokesman told reporters, although her previous treatment had been without incident.

The spokesman said the doctor entered the treatment room on his own, closed the door and then proceeded to examine the woman “in an inappropriate manner and the examination escalated to the point where the victim was seriously sexually assaulted.”

The WPS said the victim’s injuries were consistent with her account to police.

Ravesh was removed from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba’s list of practising physicians the same day police publicized his arrest.

He had been licensed in Manitoba since July 2010, according to the college.

Murray reminded people an “overwhelming majority” of doctor visits are professional and without incident.

“We don’t believe the public should have any concern,” he said, although he encouraged anyone who finds themselves in inappropriate situations to reach out to police.

jane.gerster@freepress.mb.ca