Women’s ordeal at hands of back doctor revealed
Dr Jemal Khan
(CNS): Many of the women sexually assaulted by Dr Jamel (Jamie) Khan told police that they did not make a report in the immediate wake of the assault because they did not think they would be believed. The court heard that several of his victims blamed themselves and were ashamed and embarrassed about what had happened to them. The details of Khan’s offending and how it came to light, as well as the ordeal the women suffered, were presented to the court in a sentencing hearing Wednesday by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran before Justice Charles Quin.
Moran told the court that although most of the women had told their husbands, partners and friends almost immediately, they were all wary of going to the authorities because it was their word against his. One woman revealed how she had written a letter of complaint to the relevant oversight body but had not sent it after she learned that Khan was a member of the medical commission.
But eventually one woman did call and make a complaint to the Health Practice Commission in February this year, just days after she was indecently assaulted by Khan and believed he had taken a picture of her. She was advised to go to the police, and based on the evidence she gave, the police obtained a warrant to search Dr Khan’s practice and home, during which a hard drive was seized.
Police not only found images of the woman who had complained but pictures of another woman as well. That triggered a further investigation and a wider public appeal to women who might have visited the practice to come forward. Around a dozen more women came forward to give evidence.
Khan was eventually charged and pleaded guilty to eleven counts of sexual offences relating to ten different women across an 18-month period.
Most of the victims were treated in similar ways by Khan, who gained the trust of his patients, manipulated the women into undressing and used medical treatment and massage for cover as he proceeded to touch the woman in inappropriate ways, including touching their genitals.
The women described being shocked and stunned by his behaviour, embarrassed and feeling degraded by what he did, but also many spoke of their own shame for not necessarily reacting immediately to what was a sexual assault. Many of the women had trusted Khan and were long-standing patients who had been successfully treated by him and regarded him as a capable physician who had helped them with a variety of conditions and pain management.
Despite feeling uncomfortable and violated, the women said they did not put a stop to the touching during the sessions when they were sexually assaulted as it was disguised as part of the treatment, but all of them never went back after the incidents.
As he described the case for the court, Moran said that Khan abused the trust of his patients “in a manner that can only be described as disgraceful”.
He also accused Khan of planning and picking his victims, which he said was illustrated further when on one occasion he warned one of the women that the massage treatment would involve touching the woman in intimate areas. When one of the women had stopped Khan when he penetrated her vagina with his finger, he suggested it was inadvertent as he had attempted to massage a muscle that was in a difficult place to reach.
In Khan’s defence Laura Larner, his attorney from Samson & McGrath, told the court that it was not planned but he was acting on impulse and that his victims were not selected. She said Dr Khan was extremely remorseful and had written to the court expressing his deep shame and regret for his behaviour and the impact his actions had on his victims. Larner said he had already begun treatment for his offending with a psychologist. Since being taken into custody, he had signed up for the Sycamore Project, where inmates at the jail speak with victims of crime about the effect it has had on their lives.
Although Canadian, the 47-year-old doctor came to Cayman in 1998 and was given status in 2003 as part of the mass status grants given that year. But Larner said that once he has served his time, his life in Cayman would be over as he had ruined any chance of continuing his career, given the offending, and he planned to return to Canada. She appealed to the judge to consider the mitigating factors in the case as he considered the sentence he would impose.
With no previous cases in Cayman of a similar nature, there are no local legal precedents for sentencing. Justice Charles Quin, who must decide the prison term, said he would take time to consider the appropriate sentence. Khan was remanded in custody to HMP Northward until 16 November for delivery of sentence.
Category: Local News
What a creep. Disgusting individual. Just shameful.
Patients need to be more aware of what chiropractors do — they are not massage therapists. Chiropractors deal mainly with what they call “subluxations” of the spine, manipulating the body in movements designed to relieve those pressures and thus realigning the body’s nervous system. (that is my layman’s take). Massages are reserved for the massage therapists.
I remember when Khan had expanded his practice to included a massage therapist. Seems he got bolder as time passed to doing massages himself.
This should be a read flag to everyone — when your medical practitioner or other professional starts massaging you, BIG, BIG RED FLAG. (Not really funny)
I remember seeing the male caregiver of teenage girls in a group home massaging the leg of one of the girls. Next thing I heard was that the girl was accusing him of abuse. He had travelled with the girl for a medical appointment and stayed in the same hotel room with her, if you please. Case never went anywhere — usual case — his word against hers.
Thankfully, one person had the courage to go to the police and he was caught, otherwise he would be doing this for a long time. Obviously he is a mentally disturbed individual.
I don’t like when things like this happen and it is an expat or a “non-indigenous Caymanian”, people are so eager to blame whomever gave them the right to be here and call for deportation. Cayman has its share of messed up individuals but most people act as though it is only expats who commit these crimes.
A mentally ill man is a mentally ill man,irrespective of his nationality.
I read and hear about so many cases here, of children being sexually abused by fathers, stepfather, cousins, uncles, brothers, family friends, where is the outrage for that?
Six months, nine months, two years for these types of assaults but mandatory ten years for possession of a firearm.
What message are you sending to girls, women here? They are not important, the “good old boys” club is at work.
It appears that the judges think that these types of assaults are not a big deal.
I beg the judges, think if this were your wife, daughter, mother or sister.
Send a message loud and clear that this behaviour is not tolerated.
Until someone experiences that type of assault they don’t know the psychological and emotional trauma this has on a person for the rest of their lives.
Even some women claim what they would have done or what those women should have done, you have not walked in their shoes, not interested in your “would haves and could haves”.
For those who have been brave enough to speak up, hold your head high and believe that your action will encourage others to speak up.
CGS: I am appalled that you try to imply that people are not equally disturbed about sexual abuse by family members. There is no exception to the outrage felt in any of these cases — regardless of nationality, as you rightfully observe yourself.
Shocking. My teenage daughter went to him several times after a sports injury. Thank God I stayed in the room.
Deportation Order?
Not you again.
It is a little irritating to see those post about what a good doctor this creep is. Who cares? He violated the trust of his patients — and is therefore undeniably a sleeve bag. I was also a patient — I thought he was a bit creepy and I, too, would not have allowed him to get away with his crap. But I totally understand that some women, possibly younger and not as exposed, might have felt that it would have been his word against theirs and that they would not have been believed.
I had a doctor pinch my bottom when he was examining me at age 22 — when I was shy and afraid to go up against a doctor — he knew he could get away with it. I did nothing to bring it on in any way. Another scumbag. But that same doctor would not try it today. As many posters have observed, duppy know who fi frighten.
Let’s not blame the victims.
Good on the first woman who got the ball rolling. Congratulations. You have saved many from abuse — and he was likely becoming more and more bold. Who knows where this would have ended?!
Creep! Hope he gets a good while in jail — and let us deport these creeps at the end of their jail terms.
I know that the US deport landed aliens when they complete their jail terms.
And by the way, one does not become a Canadian when one is landed resident. One does not become an American when one gets a Green Card.
I question whether it is appropriate to conceive of someone as a Caymanian when he or she is “granted” status. ( Status by “right” is different).
I don’t know exactly what the law says, but in my view ” Caymanian” should be reserved for those who have received BDT Citizenship, and that should require an eligibility period of residency and demonstration of good citizenship.
Can’t since he was part of the status grants in 2003. Buy have they really screwed us!
As women we it is hammered into us by our families, society, the media…… from day 1 to respect and not question authority. To not step out of line. To know our place. To not create a fuss.
Only ONE of these victims felt comfortable to come forward, and even though none of these women were comfortable with what this man was doing or did to them, they did not speak up.
Why?
Read my first paragraph.
I was sexually assaulted by my uncle when I was 11 years old. I told my mother who did nothing. I never told anyone else. Because when I spoke up to say what was being done to me I was ignored.
As as child I was not encouraged to voice my own opinions. I was not told that it was okay to be angry when I knew something was wrong. I knew that what my uncle did to me was wrong. But what I did not know…was what to do about it.
So parents, mothers…..please teach your daughters that it is okay to be loud, it is okay to have an opionion, it is okay to think for yourself, it is okay to yell STOP when’s someone is making you uncomfortable, it is okay to take action. Teach your daughters that it is okay to be seen and heard!
Teach your daughters what to do and whatever you do……please do not ignore them when they come to you.
I bet one more chiropractor on this island is praying daily. Because he is also “used medical treatment and massage for cover as he proceeded to touch the woman in inappropriate ways”. We have even “discussed” it in our office.
Know exactly who you mean (the wet noodle). Wish I had spoken about it at the time. Now, it will appear to others as just “jumping on the bandwagon”!
Never to late to report sexual assault! It will save other potential victims.
Well maybe you should stop posting comments on CNS and go “discuss” this at the police station!
FFS think of the women you will be protecting in future!
I am sure he doesn’t do it anymore and there is no evidence so to speak, it has been awhile ago. He is a good chiropractor though, very good. He diagnosed me with ITBS right away, when Dr.Khan couldn’t. I remember Dr. Khan claiming to be the best chiro on this island. I switched to the other one, who is truly the best minus that one very special treatment. I had massages before and knew it was not normal, but he maintained that very fine line between obviously inappropriate touching and possibly inappropriate. There were many girls who had this experience and it was a topic of many conversations.
There is nothing wrong with where they are voicing there concerns
Free happy endings!!!??? Now you tell me! Geeeeez
You equate assault to happy endings?
I believe this is the third person from the 2003 mass status grant that has committed sick and serious sexual crimes against females and minors. I hope our politicians have learnt now from their mistakes. I hope it is not too late for the generations to come? Money isn’t everything and we should stop giving our country away.
Thanks Mac.
Would you like to see the figures for those convicted that were not among the 2003 grant’s , from that point to date ?
Yes please, together with a list of whether they are Caymanian or not.
True – typical that it was a Caymanian and not a law abiding expat.
Wishful thinking.
Take all this scumbags wealth as compensation for all his victims, he doesnt deserve a cent when he exploited his position and trust as a doctor through his work, got pleasure from it and made him bags of money. Take him to the cleaners. And take away his license so he can never practice again. It is disgusting that he tried to put his finger up someone. That is outrageous. Take it all from him else he will serve his time, take his wealth and set up shop again where he is unknown and continue in his sick perversion.
I would venture to guess that this activity was going on for a long time. He did it a few times and got away with it and that created excitement. His career is destroyed and he only has himself to blame. No woman should have to go through this kind of ordeal.
Geez, if people would just think! No one one should ever have been in this man’s office to begin with because he was an obvious quack. Do basic research! The procedures he was peddling are nonsense anti-science idiocy.
Here’s the key question: why does the CI government allow con-artists to set up shop here and ripoff sick and injured people?
Yo mama
How do you know it Gilbert who nominated him?
I was sat watching this slimball on tv when my wife jumped out of her seat and pointed at the tv,
He assaulted me years ago were the words she blurted out, then explaining what he did, she was in her 20s and is now in her 40s, I advised her what to do but she wanted to leave it where it was as she really doesn’t want the stigma and finger pointing at her,
This is a real scumbag, a jimmy saville wannabe, disgusting
If this is the case she should file a report with the police so that other people do not become victims. Think of the untold damage that could have been prevented if the very first victim had reported the incident.
I was a patient of Dr. Khan for about 10 years. I always had a immediate relief with hurting neck and shoulders. In all the years that I went to him I never felt uncomfortable in his presence. IF he had tried any inappropriate touching I would have picked up whatever was handy in the room and swiped him with it. I would have slapped him silly. WHY did these women allow him to touch them where he should not have done so? And I would have immediately reported his behavior to the right authorities.
You never know how you will react to a situation until you are in it. I wouldn’t be so quick to judge those women who didn’t go to the authorities, they were fighting a battle you know nothing about (hopefully). Well done to the women who came forward, it takes a lot of guts and strength to do what you did. To the first woman who came forward; you should be extremely proud of yourself, you helped lead the way and give other women the bravery to come forward and put a stop to all of this. The world needs more people like you.
If you have never be assaulted you have no idea how you would react – as a victim of domestic abuse please choose your words carefully before making judgment
Lucky you to be someone confident who could defend yourself. I don’t think there is anything to gain in putting any blame on these poor women for not speaking up or stopping him. They trusted him as their doctor so their frame of reference was blurred or confused. They are the victims and should not be made to feel any worse than they already do. Please think more carefully about the effect your words may have on others.
You never know how you will react to a situation until you are in it. I wouldn’t be so quick to judge those women who didn’t go to the authorities, they are fighting a battle you know nothing about. I applaud the women that did come forward, it takes a lot of guts and strength to do what you did. To the woman who came forward first; you should be extremely proud of yourself, you led the way and helped give other women the bravery to come forward and put a stop to all of this. The world needs more people like you!
I was the same as you and went to him for years. He never touched me inappropriately and he was an excellent doctor. That was by the Grace of God. We should never think of somehow blaming or sounding as if we are blaming these women or questioning why they reacted the way they did. The reality is you may think you know how you would react but you never really know until it happens to you. Furthermore you can see from the judges statement he picked his victims carefully. Some of us may be more quiet or passive than others. Either way its his shame and his alone. To those women that were victimised I wish you a quick healing and recovery and so sorry that this happened.
What you have done here is called victim blaming. It is not for women to not stop the assault or allow themselves to be victims- it’s for men (and women) to NOT assault. This mentality is part of the problem and one of the reasons people DONT report.
I really don’t like when people blame the victims of abuse for being abused!
Maybe it’s you?
This is a perfect example of victim blaming! Why are you asking that question?
Hopefully he will be in jail for several years. However, he is a wealthy man. I believe he has sold what remained of his medical practice, has sold his office space and his home is up for sale currently in excess of USD$1 million. He also has a house on Vancouver Island (Canada). He will leave jail with that wealth. There should be some claw back, either paying his full costs while in prison, compensation to the victims or substantial donation to Cayman Island based charities that support women and health matters.
I hope the relevant Cayman Medical Board now move publically to full termination of his practice license and further advise their counterparts within Canada.
and it continues if we don’t have a finger printing machine and scan like the US. and back ground checks we will always be in a mess “ALWAYS” now do you know there has been individuals in Cayman who are featured on AMERICAS MOST WANTED? so easy to live here as a criminal of any sort
yeah but the politicians won’t fingerprint Caymanians
How would that would that stopped this? There was no reference to him having a record prior prior coming to Cayman.
Do they have Muslims in India?
Yes, 9:23, many millions of them. Why?
The DDPP strikes again. Well done Mr Moran!
A cabinet status grant after 5 years? Cabinet, revoke his status. He has committed and offence that was facilitated by the grant. What are you waiting for?
Can’t be revoked when granted by cabinet, unlike those that earned it through long time residency that can lose it after 5 years absence.
Hopefully he will be in jail for several years. However, he is a wealthy man. He has sold what remained of his medical practice, has sold his office space and his home is up for sale currently in excess of USD$1 million. He also has a house in Vancouver Island (Canada). He will leave jail with that wealth. There should be some claw back, either paying his full costs while in prison, compensation to the victims or substantial donation to Cayman Island based charities that support women and health matters.
If the victims pursue him in the civil courts, and I hope they do, we could see that wealth dwindle.
Give him the absolute maximum sentence. He is not remorseful just sorry that he was caught in his sick perversions. Almost everyone had implicit faith and trust in him and he abused that. That goes beyond sexual assault.
If he did this to my wife, I would have ended up in jail for what I would have done to him. Men like this deserve no place in any society.
His lawyer said he is “extremely remorseful”. Really? If this were true he would have pled guilty to all his crimes, not just the ones where the evidence was too much to argue against. Also, what about the women he may have violated that never even came forward, those who have since left island for instance or those who still couldn’t bring themselves to make a report. What about the women who didn’t even suspect he was taking pictures or doing something else to them that wasn’t right? To Justice Charles Quin – please sentence this animal to the maximum allowed. Society needs to be protected from these predators.
The past actions of Mckeeva (status grants) has negatively affectied the Cayman Islands – today and for many generations to come.
He has turned the West Bay district where I lived my whole life into a community of the unknown and a community living on Welare. I have never seen some much laziness and wutlessness on every corner you go.
Men & Women turned into alcoholics and drug addicts, young women breeding every year, begging on the street corners everywhere you go, despite getting free housing, free medical, $550 CI monthly and vouchers to buy food at Fosters. However, not a one of them has the ambition to cut your lawn for $60 – 75 CI.
If you do come get them to cut your lawn, they will come back 24 hours later and steal your lawn mower and sell it for 345 beer and crack cocaine.
We have become a Welfare State and politicians are all to blame.
CNS I do believe this one should be a featured comment. The writer has hit every nail on the head! Our dutty politicians have dumbed down the middle/lower income families to the point of no return. And it’s been done to secure their next term in office.
why would they cut your grass for $60 when a yardie will do it for $25!!!
Excellent analysis 8:28 but what you describe did not come about from the Status Grants but from many many years of entitlement mentality, corruption and not forcing Caymanians to realise they can’t get money without working for it.
Mainly the West Bay posse.
@ 8:28am – I’m no fan of Mr. Bush, but how exactly is he responsible for turning men and women into alcoholics and drug addicts?
And as for those who chose to be on welfare instead of going out and getting a job…..that’s nobody’s fault but theirs and their parents.
Because he has supported their entitlement mentality by giving hand outs. It’s more like he’s given them a fish instead of teaching them to fish. You can hear in in the voting lines “I’ve been doing this for years, I know where my X is going….” they prey on his kindness and expect that he will thank them with hand outs.
It’s the domino effect that unfortunately Mr. Bush either doesn’t realize he is causing or doesn’t care. I suspect it’s the former – but also guess he will not get out of his own way to even recognize what is happening.
Just like how he states he is for development and always has been. Well that is great – but with what plan? There has been no strategic course set for all the development – so the fast growth has also lead to much of the societal issue we have now.
We need to stop being reactionary and start plotting a course of action for Cayman with the future in mind.
(47-year-old doctor came to Cayman in 1998 and was given status in 2003) . AND ONCE AGAIN!! CIGs favorite move! We will give non Caymanians the right to be Caymanians without doing back ground checks because we do not care about Caymanians and their future. We (UDP/PPM) care about how much more votes we can get to stay in power and keep ripping the Cayman People a new a-hole, by supporting all the rich investors such as DART, Ugland .. etc. Whoever has money in the Cayman Islands will survive. Thanks TO Mckeeva, you can be a Caymanian for $1 Million dollars. BUT Wait, BACKGROUND CHECK?? NAH we dont need that! NAH TRUE BO BO! Hence why all the POLICE Commissioners came out on top after ripping Cayman and the true Caymanians a new a-hole. Mckeeva you suck, Alden you suck. No Votes for you. Always giving NON-Caymanians, Cayman Status WITH NO BACKGROUND CHECKS!! .. I wonder how many wanted people, murderers, sexual predators in the world have Cayman Status … Time to tighten up and have background checks done before employment. Mckeeva and Alden Always wanting to second place your Cayman People to let these expats win … TIME FOR A CHANGE. YOU WANT CHANGE! VOTE FOR IT! .. Mckeeva and Alden has not change anything for the better. If you think they have, YOU are part of the problem. …
(Anonymousir)
Stop SHOUTING! That is what capital letters mean.
Please enlighten me as to who the PPM/ Alden “gave” status to without proper process and background checks?
Now Big Mac. That is an entirely different question. After he has passed on his children & ours will be dealing with his/UDP stupidity.
Sorry to inform you but the 2003 Status Grant Fiasco was all UDP and their cronies. PPM had nothing to do with it per say.
@8:25am – What a well thought out and reasoned comment. Succient and to the point, a delight to read! Unlike the usual rambling, ranting and ravings we usually see on here.
I am deeply upset for the women who were prey for this predator. I applaud your bravery for taking a stand. Thanks to you, this sexual predator will soon be behind bars to hopefully never subject another woman to this type of deceit and degredation.
I visited his office on several occasions for back pain and he was always pleasant. This is a very unfortunately story.
And I honestly believe you, however the article state he “plan & pick” his victim.
I visited him as well and found him to be creepy and condescending- never went back. I’m so glad he’s finally behind bars where he belongs!! What a dirt bag, manipulator! That judge better not be easy on him just because he feels “remorseful”… gimme a break!! If those brave women never came forward, he’d still be practicing and still be slimy and still be preying on the innocent! And for the person claiming CIG doesn’t do background checks… this would not have come up on a background check and furthermore, there are plenty of Caymanians who have and still do sexually assault the women AND CHILDREN in their lives (and getting away with it apparently)… so don’t go treating this as an Expat only problem! There’s no excuse for it, expat or local!! Let’s just hope the Justice System pulls through for these women that have come forward… and for the ones who have not- to show them it’s okay to tell the authorities when they’ve been abused!
Well said
Arrived in 1998 and became “a Caymanian” in 2003? What the heck kind of foolishness was that – five years to assimilate himself into our culture, or wasn’t that a factor for pity’s sake? Utter madness prevailed for sure, and Caymanians are to blame.
So it would be OK if a Caymanian or paper Caymanian did it? I don’t condone in any way his actions, but most of you are blaming letting in a foreigner who abused the privilege of his office without even mentioning the child abuse and wife beating that goes on in Caymanian homes…there are crooks in every society and sick people like this, its a general problem and some are going to slip through the cracks.
@11:35pm – Erm what exactly is there to assimilate to in Cayman? The culture of intolerance, bigotry, entitlement, laziness and greed?
FYI, those characteristics are not something a country and its people should be known for.
11.35pn here – my goodness, clearly you really haven’t a clue about the Cayman Islands and its culture and people. You have a lot to learn, sportsfan. Let’s begin with you opening an atlas (a book of world maps) and discovering exactly where the Cayman Islands is ……. then, slowly mind, we can begin the educational process.
it seems he is not the only doctor to have done this in Cayman. Other victims need to come forward.
Yes me too but not by him. I won’t mention his name (I believe he is now retired) but he was located on Crewe Road. I was given an internal exam for a work permit medical. At that time I did not know it was NOT required.
Disgusting old man.
Go to the police. It’s never too late to seek justice. Check old Bill Cosby for example.
This is Cayman 12.37
Tetleys makes tea bags makes tea.
Another outsider not screen before entering these islands much less before he was given status here. Bracka
Send him back to Pakistan. Canada does not want or need this deviant.
Umm… you mean India… He is Indian.
Tomato tomato
Racist the lot of you. He was born Canadian, became a Cayman citizen through your laws, and committed his crimes while being a Cayman citizen. He’s not Indian or Pakistani, he’s Caymanian. Get over yourselves, Caymanians get arrested and charged with heinous sexually assault every year. What I find almost as disgusting as these racist rants are the local news agencies focusing and promoting this hatred. CNS included.
The first reports on this story showed his photo and his original citizenship, when a so called “true born” Caymanian gets arrested you never post and an image, and you never say originally from Christopher Columbus boat…..donkyes
Canada was implementing a law that if you committed a crime – usually a terrorist related but intended it to be broader – and had rights to obtain another citizenship, then you could lose your Canadian citizenship. Lucky for this dr it would not apply to him as the caveat was that it was only for non born Canadians.
A big outcry came out shortly after and it received a lot of pushback.
Not with a last name like Khan. Khan is not an Indian name, it is a Pakistani name.
Khan is a Muslim name. There are many millions of Indian Muslims living in India. Not all Khans by any stretch of the imagination live in Pakistan. The partition of India (when it gained its independence) into India and Pakistan did not remove all Muslims from India.
What a racist thing to say. Is that you Mr. Trump?
WOW I went to see him once. I was a little worried by his actions of keeping his dogs inside a cupboard in his practice. I’m male so doubt he took pics of me but hopefully these woman can get some satisfaction when he does some hard time. You just never know who is who these days!
Nope you can’t. And sadly – this is why I don’t allow my kids to do sleep overs. I was abused by a family friend when I was little and let me tell you, you never really get over that. You learn to move on – but you are never the same. I know I can’t protect them from everything – but with all the sickos in the world I’m going to do my best to try.
Very sad that this is now the world we live in.
Agreed. This extends even further as most recently divorced separated individuals don’t want the shared overnight access because of the new bf or gf of the former spouse and the new bf or gfs children. It is very scary
What hard time? Unfortunately there is no hard time at the Northward prison. Sick jerk! I would like to smack that smile off his face.
Interesting choices of words.
And why on earth would his dogs be kept in the cupboard and they should not be at a medical practice, unhygienic!
Thanks a lot Makeewa!
Ok blame Mac if you want but remember that Ministers were asked to list their nominations. The Minister of Health (Gilbert McLean) was a patient of Khan’s and McLean nominated him for status.
I can’t seem to understand as to how one can blame McKeeva. Had he not got status he would still be here as doctors have no roll over. What else must McKeeva be blamed for now, for your existence???
Thanks Gilbert !