KEY POINTS:
The wife of a disgraced New Plymouth doctor is vowing to stand by her husband, despite his imprisonment yesterday on 26 sex charges.
"We love him, we will stand strong. I thank all the people, our friends and supporters and lawyers who stood by us. We love him and we believe in his innocence," Pretheeva Fernando said.
The High Court at New Plymouth yesterday sentenced Theomal Hirantha Joseph Fernando, 58, to three years and two months in prison for 26 charges of sexual assault. The offending - for which Fernando was convicted at trial - was carried out against 10 female patients over a 21-year period from 1981.
He was also ordered to pay reparation of $29,000.
Fernando applied for bail pending an appeal, but his request was declined by Justice John Priestley. He will remain in prison until a hearing can be scheduled.
Some details of the appeal were suppressed, but they included concerns over inconsistencies in last month's jury verdict.
Mrs Fernando, after the sentencing, said thousands of people had seen Fernando during his career, and still believed he was a good doctor.
"The impressions of a few people have caused him to lose his career, his livelihood and his good name," she said.
The case polarised the New Plymouth community, with many prominent citizens and former patients supporting the doctor, who migrated from Sri Lanka to New Zealand in the 1970s.
He became a respected member of the community, the church, and Rotary. What was detailed during the trial was the tale of a hard-working family man, a valued member of the community, and bridge builder for other migrants who had "one fatal flaw". In arguing for a two-year sentence - with leave to apply for home detention - Fernando's lawyer, Harry Waalkens, QC, said his client had already endured stiff punishment for his actions.
"The man who has done so much good will now be remembered for these convictions."
He said Fernando, who had his medical licence to practise suspended by the Medical Council last month, would be struck off the medical register.
Crown prosecutors had sought a six-year sentence.
In sentencing, Justice Priestly said any sentence must reflect the severe impact Fernando's offending had on the victims, all of whom delivered victim reports either in person or through the Crown lawyer during sentencing.
"I went to him as a patient and unwittingly walked out as a victim," said one of the women, whose identity is suppressed.
Justice Priestley said all Fernando's victims were left feeling "sordid, defiled and unclean".
However, Fernando's offending was mitigated by good work he had done for the community, health problems he endured, and for the sudden and spectacular fall from grace he had suffered.
- additional reporting: NZPA
