Psychiatrist Abdullahi Mohamed sentenced to year in jail for sex abuse of patients

April 29, 2013

A former psychiatrist who prac­ticed in Monroe was sentenced Thursday to a year in jail for sexually assaulting patients and also has been named in addi­tional civil lawsuits, with the alleged victims seeking $10 million in damages.

Dr. Abdullahi A. Mohamed, 58, will spend the next year in jail after he was sentenced by Monroe County Circuit Judge Michael A. Weipert. In addition to imprisonment, Judge Weipert sen­tenced Dr. Mohamed to five years of probation and ordered that he no longer can practice medicine. The defendant also must stay away from the victims.

In January, Dr. Mohamed, whose license remains active through 2015 according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Reg­ulatory Affairs, pleaded no contest to three counts of criminal sexual conduct-fourth degree involving a mental health professional.

Up to nine women have com­plained to authorities that the psy­chiatrist took advantage of them while they were under his care. A Newport woman filed a civil law­suit last summer in Wayne County Circuit Court seeking $10 million.

Since then, two others filed suits in Monroe County Circuit Court seeking the same amount in dam­ages. All three plaintiffs are being represented by the same attorney, Gregory J. Rohl of Novi.

Earlier this month, a 48- year­old LaSalle woman claimed in her 13- page suit that Dr. Mohamed touched her sexually on six dif­ferent occasions between January and May, 2012. During one visit, the defendant allegedly “ lifted up her shirt and inappropriately hugged and kissed the plaintiff,” the lawsuit read.

The psychiatrist reportedly told her he had sexually explicit dreams about her, then locked her inside his office. When she resisted his advances, the lawsuit claims, he told her, “Just wait. I will get you.”

In the other lawsuit filed by a 35- year- old Temperance woman, it was alleged that the defendant attempted to sexually assault the victim but she resisted. On another occasion, however, he was accused of lifting up her shirt and rubbing her breasts.

In both Monroe suits, the plain­tiffs are seeking damages for emo­tional distress, sexual assault, fright and shock and other issues. The women claimed in court and in legal papers that they felt vul­nerable during the assaults and were prescribed high doses of po­tent medications.

Also named in the civil suits were the Progressive Guidance Center of Monroe, 15502 S. Telegraph Rd.; Mercy Memorial Hospital where Dr. Mohamed was a staff physi­cian until his termination, and the Family Health Clinic, 700 Stewart Rd., where he had an office.

Dr. Mohamed’s criminal attor­ney, Barry A. Resnick of Farming­ton Hills, said in court Thursday that his client has lost everything, including his license to practice, his home and his car.

Monroe County Assistant Pros­ecutor Amara Hunter said several victims spoke during the sentenc­ing hearing describing their emo­tional and physical distress caused by the incidents. Dr. Mohamed said nothing in court.

Source: "Monroe Doctor Sentenced In Sexual Assaults," Monroe News, March 22, 2013.