The 74-year-old former doctor denied the boy’s account but his explanations for being in the shower with the child were found to be inconsistent
The doctor worked in the city of Liege (pictured)(Image: Getty)
An elderly former doctor has been jailed for five years in Belgium for raping a young boy with Down’s syndrome.
The 74-year-old, who has not been named, received a sentence of five years – with one-third of the sentence suspended – at the Liège Court of Appeal on Tuesday following an earlier trial, the Brussels Times reports.
The court was told that the abuse took place in March and May 2021. The child victim told investigators that he had been raped on two occasions by the defendant, who continued to see several patients following his retirement. He also had a lengthy friendship with the father of the young boy and worked in the city of Liège.
The boy told authorities that one of the sexual assaults occurred in a shared shower at the retired doctor’s house following a sports session. The child was unable to specifically describe the other incident.
The defendant denied the boy’s account but his explanations for being in the shower with him were found to be inconsistent.
Results of a medical examination on the boy showed signs of sexual abuse and a psychological report on the former doctor suggested he displayed narcissistic personality traits.
The initial trial, which was held in late September, saw the defendant given a five-year sentence with two-thirds suspended. The prosecution had asked for a six-year prison sentence due to the child’s vulnerability but the defence pushed for acquittal or an entirely suspended sentence.
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