Bassem Fouad, a dentist from Sydney, is facing nine charges of aggravated sexual touching, indecent assault under authority, and intentionally sexually touching a child.
He is accused of sexually assaulting multiple patients, frequently pressing himself against them when aroused and placing his dentistry tools on their breasts. Fouad has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the trial, Fouad’s lawyer, Jeffrey Clarke, argued that touching patients is a necessary part of being a dentist but denied that the touching was sexually motivated. He said it was up to the jury to decide whether the touching was done for sexual gratification.
The prosecutor, Daniel Noll, alleged that Fouad would thrust himself against his patients and that CCTV footage captured in 2021 showed the dentist regularly touching his groin and a patient’s breast on one occasion.
The footage also showed Fouad removing his gloves and taking his penis out of his pants. Both Mr Clarke and Mr Noll said the dentist explained to police he did so because of a medical condition.
Fouad is accused by five women who were regular patients at two dental clinics in Mascot.
The women cannot be named for legal reasons. One patient reported feeling Fouad’s crotch against her head, and another said she felt something ’round like a sausage’ moving side to side against her arm.
A third patient, who was 15 then, said she had to slide down the dental chair to avoid Fouad, who began thrusting himself against her head.
The trial is ongoing, and the jury will decide whether Fouad is guilty of sexually assaulting his patients.
»Dentist Bassem Fouad faces nine sexual charges«
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