KUALA TERENGGANU, July 20 – A local court has ordered a seven-year prison term after a local ENT specialist sentenced for child abuse and faced multiple charges. The court also ordered corporal punishment for the criminal offenses. Consequently, child safety groups have welcomed the direct judicial ruling to protect young patients in private hospitals.
Doctor Found Guilty As ENT Specialist Sentenced
The case involved 42-year-old Mohd Safwan Mohd Soffian. He worked as an ear, nose, and throat doctor at a local private hospital. The medical practitioner faced seven counts of physical sexual assault against a young male patient. State prosecutors proved that the victim was only 11 and 12 years old when the abuse took place.
The police investigation showed that the doctor abused his position of authority during routine checkups. He assaulted the child inside his private consultation room multiple times. These incidents occurred between September 2022 and April 2023. Therefore, the state charged him under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
The Court Ruling On ENT Specialist Sentenced
Sessions Court Judge Mohd Zul Zakiquddin Zulkifli delivered the final verdict over the weekend. He ruled that the prosecution built a solid case against the physician. Furthermore, the judge noted that the defense team failed to raise any reasonable doubt during the trial.
“The court sentences the accused to seven years in prison and seven strokes of the cane,” Judge Mohd Zul Zakiquddin stated during the sentencing. “The prison terms will run concurrently from today.”
Mandatory Police Supervision For Convicted Doctor
The ENT specialist sentenced today faces long-term restrictions after his eventual release from prison. The court placed a mandatory two-year police supervision order on each charge. This step ensures security teams will monitor his location to prevent future risks.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family expressed relief outside the courtroom. Deputy Public Prosecutors Ahmad Hafizuddin Manjur Ahmad and Nur Azhani Azman led the state trial. Ultimately, the Malaysian Medical Council plans to cancel the doctor’s registration permanently to keep hospital systems safe.
