Uppsala DoctorS Sexual Abuse Sentence Increased to Eight Years
Uppsala, Sweden – Christian Abi-Khalil, 39, a former doctor in Uppsala, has received an increased prison sentence for sexual abuse and rape offenses committed against patients. The Svea High Court has raised his sentence to eight years, from the seven years initially handed down by Uppsala District Court in June.
The case originated last year when a patient reported an unsettling experiance during a medical visit, leading to suspicions of sexual abuse during examinations. Victims testified that Abi-Khalil pressured them to undress unnecessarily, including one instance where a patient seeking help with weight management was allegedly forced to expose himself during an examination.
“I was skeptical and asked why. He just said that’s how it works. Then he held me down on the British and asked me to pull down the underwear so that my sex appeared,” one patient stated during interrogation, according to court records.
The High Court justified the increased sentence, citing the notably serious nature of the crimes due to the abuse of the doctor-patient relationship. The court equated the abuse to sexual intercourse.
Abi-khalil was originally convicted of sexual abuse in eight cases and rape in two. The High Court has now convicted him of rape in all ten cases. Authorities anticipate the revocation of his medical license.
Throughout the proceedings, Abi-Khalil has maintained his innocence, claiming all actions were medically justified.
His defense attorney, Anders Sjögren, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the verdict. “The immediate reaction is that it is a big disappointment. The verdict contains a great deal of shortcomings,” Sjögren stated. He believes Abi-Khalil should have been acquitted and intends to appeal the decision. “Christian has done exactly what he is obliged to do, namely a thorough investigation,” Sjögren added.
