A victim of sexual assault by her doctor has told a court how fear and a feeling of uncleanness has permeated her life since the assault.
A Victorian County Court jury found Shafiul Milky, 59, guilty last month of 15 charges including the indecent assault, rape and sexual assault of six female patients between 2012 and 2019.
Shafiul Milky was found guilty last month of 15 charges of the rape, sexual assault and indecent assault of six patients.Credit:Wayne Taylor
At the time of the crimes, Milky was employed at Ocean Grove Peninsula Family Medical Practice and Home Doctor Service.
One of Milky’s victims is now diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and has been admitted into psychiatric care five times since the former doctor sexually assaulted her.
“Awake, asleep, alone or with company – the fear is always with me,” she told the court on Monday.
“I now bathe five times a day, but I still don’t feel clean.”
She is one of at least two victims who have moved interstate out of fear of living in the same area as their attacker.
The woman remained stoic as she read out her victim impact statement via a video link from regional NSW.
“I called the police, I called AHPRA [the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency]; it was me – I fought back,” she said.
Judge Felicity Hampel said that the victim’s insight during the trial and her impact statement read to the court were “quite remarkable”.
“It sounds like you are well on the path of being a survivor and not a victim,” Hampel said.
Another victim, who was assaulted by Milky in her home while seeking after-hours treatment for a swollen ankle and low blood pressure, described his actions as deplorable and said she was scarred for life.
Milky’s barrister, Theo Kassimatis, told the pre-sentence hearing his client’s career as a doctor was over and that he would likely be deported to New Zealand once he completed his jail term.
Milky was born in Bangladesh and moved to New Zealand in 2000 before gaining his citizenship and taking up a job as a GP in Ocean Grove on the Bellarine Peninsula.
After undertaking extra study to have his qualifications recognised in Australia, he needed to work for 10 years in regional Victoria.
His registration was suspended in September 2019 following a police investigation into allegations against him.
Prosecutor Richard Pirrie described the offending as serious, and told the court Milky’s victims were particularly vulnerable, and included a new mum and others who needed medical care in their homes after hours.
Milky will be sentenced on April 27.
If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline on 131 114, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, or the national sexual assault and domestic violence helpline 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
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