'I feel like this has ruined my life': 2nd witness speaks at sexual assault trial for former Regina doctor
CBC
WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find disturbing
The trial for a former Regina doctor who has been charged with seven counts of sexual assault entered its second day on Tuesday.
The charges against Sylvestre Ukabam, 76, stem from offences that allegedly occurred between December 2010 and April 2017. A publication ban prohibits any of the complainants from being named.
Crown prosecutor Jackie Lane said Monday that the former doctor sexually assaulted five women during medical exams he did as a gastroenterologist — a doctor who deals with disorders of the stomach and intestines.
Ukabam pleaded not guilty to all charges on the first day of his trial Monday.
Court heard from a second witness — a 33-year-old mother of one from Balgonie — Tuesday at Queen's Bench in Regina. The witness suffers from ulcerative colitis and had been seeing Ukabam as a patient regularly. She said she was sexually assaulted by Ukabam on three separate occasions.
The second complainant told court she was introduced to Ukabam at Regina General Hospital, likely in 2012. Following treatments and diagnosis for her condition, she began seeing Ukabam for physical examinations at his clinic in downtown Regina.
During her first visit at Ukabam's clinic, the witness was being given a rectal exam by Ukabam when she felt pressure on her vagina. She testified that she was shocked and confused by what happened, but did not say anything to Ukabam.
Prior to the examination, the complainant said she was not offered a chaperone or told she could have one. The witness told the Crown any need for examination of the vagina was not discussed with any doctor prior to the rectal exam.
The witness said the during both the second and third alleged incidents, Ukabam put his finger inside her vagina. The second incident allegedly occurred at Ukabam's clinic, and the third incident allegedly occurred at Regina General Hospital.
She said that during both incidents, she did not believe that the former doctor was wearing gloves.
"He put his hand on me and I remember thinking it felt like his skin was touching me. And I remember thinking, I didn't think he was wearing gloves. It felt like skin-to-skin contact. I got super uncomfortable. And then he slid his hand again down my back. And then he went and put a finger in my vagina," said the witness.
"It felt like forever, but it was very brief ... I flinched, and I remember him putting a hand on my side and telling me to relax and be still."
At this point in her testimony, the witness was crying.
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This First Person column is the experience of Andrew Stetson, a writer and storyteller in P.E.I. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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