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This page last updated October 21 2006
2006-1013 - Newstalk ZB
17:08 - Disbelief doctor can keep practicing
There is disbelief in New Plymouth that a doctor found guilty of indecently
assaulting 26 female patients can keep practicing. A jury yesterday found Dr
Hiran Fernando indecently assaulted female patients between 1981 and 2002. He
has been able to keep treating patients while the allegations have been
swirling around and the Medical Council is only now advising him not to
continue working as he awaits sentencing.
2006-1013 - RadioNZ 12:02
- Medical Council says it took sufficient steps
The Medical Council says it took sufficient steps to protect the public from
a New Plymouth doctor, convicted of sex offences against 10 women yesterday…..Lorraine
Jans, a sexual abuse counsellor in New Plymouth says given the council
received other complaints about Fernando in the 1980s, it should have
immediately suspended him when criminal charges were brought against him
early last year
2006-1013 - Stuff - Disgraced
doctor was investigated in 1980s
NZPA - The Medical Council investigated disgraced New Plymouth doctor Hiran
Fernando twice in the 1980s for alleged sexual offending, but the complaints
were dismissed. Fernando, 58, was yesterday found guilty in the High Court at
New Plymouth on 26 counts of indecently assaulting women between 1981 and
2002.
2006-1013 - Taranaki Daily
News - Family, supporters 'surprised' by verdict
by Lyn Humphreys - No one in Hiran Fernando's family or his large group of
supporters ever believed the jury would find him guilty, a close friend says.
"It's all very sad," Raj Fernando said on leaving the High Court in
New Plymouth yesterday afternoon. The family and all his supporters had been
devastated by the guilty verdicts, he said. "It is not the verdict we
expected. We are all very, very surprised. "I am devastated like
everybody else," he said
2006-1013 - Taranaki Daily News -
Fall from grace
Hiran Fernando's conviction yesterday was a fall from grace for a doctor who
had a high profile in the community for a number of years. His high profile
became apparent last month when the jury was selected for his High Court
trial. In what was one of the New Plymouth court's largest call for jurors,
2000 people were initially balloted for jury service.
2006-1013 - Taranaki Daily News
- Doctor found guilty of sex charges
by Jayne Hulbert - Prominent New Plymouth doctor Hiran Fernando held his head
in his hands in disbelief after being convicted of sex offending against
former patients. In the High Court yesterday afternoon, Fernando (58) was
found guilty of 26 of the 34 indecent assault charges he faced. The jury,
which had been considering its verdicts since noon on Tuesday, found the
doctor not guilty of eight similar charges and of three charges of sexual
violation. The charges spanned from 1981 to 2002. As each of the verdicts
were read the doctor, whose full name is Theomal Hirantha (Hiran) Joseph
Fernando, looked stunned. Once the jury left the courtroom, Fernando and his
family broke down.
2006-1013 - NZ Herald -
Doctor convicted of sex charges to be barred from working
NZPA - The Medical Council will today order the New Plymouth doctor convicted
of sex offences against 10 female patients to stop working immediately. Hiran
Fernando, 58, was yesterday found guilty on 26 counts of indecently
assaulting women between 1981 and 2002. The Medical Council said it would
this morning advise Fernando's lawyers that he was under investigation and
should not return to work. If he ignored the advice, the council could
quickly move to suspend him, even before any move to deregister him which
could take some months.
2006-1013 - The Press - Sex conviction
New Plymouth doctor Hiran Fernando held his head in his hands in disbelief
after being convicted of sex offending against former patients yesterday. In
the High Court, Fernando, 58, was found guilty of 26 of the 34 indecent
assault charges
2006-1013 - Newstalk ZB 06:28-
Doctor guilty of sexual assault a "model citizen"
A New Plymouth doctor who has been found guilty of sexually assaulting female
patients, had won awards for being a good citizen. Fifty-eight-year-old Hiran
Fernando has been convicted of 26 charges of indecent assault. He was
acquitted on 11 charges…………Crown Solicitor Tim Brewer says it is an
especially tragic case as Fernando was awarded the New Plymouth District
Council's Citizens Award in 2003. He is also the recipient of the highest
Rotary award and is the founder of the Taranaki Multi-Ethnic Extravangaza
which attracts more than 10,000 people to the city every year
2006-1013 - RadioNZ 05:24 -
Medical Council orders convicted GP to cease work
The Medical Council is ordering a New Plymouth doctor who indecently
assaulted 10 patients to cease practising immediately…… The Medical Council
will this morning advise his lawyers he's under investigation and shouldn't
return to work. If he ignores that, the Council says he can be quickly
suspended, even before any move to de-register him.
2006-1013 - Radio NZ 04:00 - St John
to check that sex-convict doctor didn't abuse volunteers
The St John organisation says it will move quickly to check that the New
Plymouth GP who indecently assaulted patients did not abuse any of its first
aid volunteers…..For 16 years from 1984 Fernando was St John's New Plymouth
divisional surgeon, lecturing volunteers and checking their clinical skills. St
John's central region operations manager, Grant Pennycook, says the
convictions raise questions about the doctor's behaviour with younger members
2006-1012 - Radio NZ - Lawyer says
sex-assault doctor and family gutted by guilty verdicts
The lawyer for the New Plymouth doctor who sexually assaulted ten women
patients says Dr Hiran Fernando and his family feel gutted by his
conviction……………. His lead counsel Harry Waalkens QC says the doctor is very
disappointed and extremely surprised at the result - but that it's too early
to consider an appeal.
2006-1012 - Radio NZ -
Detective says women abused by doctor rapt with conviction
The detective who headed the case against the New Plymouth doctor who
indecently assaulted ten women patients says they're very pleased he's been
convicted…… Detective Sergeant Debbie Gower says each of the 12 women are
likely to react differently. Debbie Gower says even those women whose
complaints the jury rejected are pleased with the successful convictions
2006-1012 - One News - Doctor
guilty of 26 sex assault charges
There were emotional scenes at New Plymouth High Court on Thursday afternoon
as a doctor was found guilty of 26 counts of sexual assault…..Following a
month long trial, it took the jury of six men and six women over two and a
half days to reach their decision. They found Fernando guilty on 26 charges
of indecent assault, and not guilty on eight similar charges as well as not
guilty on three sexual violation charges. Three of the jurors openly wept as
the verdict was delivered
2006-1012 - Stuff - Doctor guilty
of sexual offences against patients
New Plymouth doctor Hiran Fernando has been found guilty of 26 charges
involving sexual abuse of his patients. The jury returned with its verdicts
at 3pm after deliberating since midday Tuesday. Judge John Priestley lifted
the suppression order on Fernando's name, which had been imposed when he was
charged early last year. Fernando has been released on bail until his
sentencing.
2006-1012 - NZ Herald - Doctor
found guilty of 26 sex charges
NZPA - New Plymouth doctor Hiran Fernando has been found guilty of 26 charges
involving sexual abuse of his patients. The jury in the High Court in New
Plymouth returned with its verdicts at 3pm today after deliberating since
midday Tuesday…… The doctor faced 34 charges of indecent assault and three of
sexual violation against 12 female patients. The charges span a 21-year
period from 1981. The jury acquitted him on the three sexual violation
charges. Fernando's trial lasted one day short of five weeks. During the
trial, complainants told of the doctor playing with their nipples, giving
unnecessary vaginal examinations and asking questions about their sex lives.
2006-1012 - Newstalk ZB -
Emotional scenes at guilty verdict
There have been emotional scenes at the High Court in New Plymouth this
afternoon as a doctor was found guilty of 26 counts of sexual assault.
Fifty-eight-year-old Sri Lankan, Hiran Fernando was facing 37 charges of
sexual offending against 12 female patients between 1981 and 2002. The jury
had been deliberating since midday on Tuesday. Three of the jurors openly
wept as the verdict was delivered
2006-1012 - Newstalk ZB -
Guilty verdict in sex case
A High Court jury has found a New Plymouth doctor guilty on 26 sex charges.
The doctor was facing 37 charges of sexually offending against 12 female
patients between 1981 and 2002.
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