In a disquieting case of abuse, a former New Bedford physician was found guilty of heinous charges involving a minor. According to WHDH, Sujan Kayastha, a 42-year-old who practiced at St. Luke’s Hospital, will be behind bars for a lengthy term following his conviction on multiple counts, including rape of a child aggravated by age difference and possession of child pornography.
Details from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office depict a troubling timeline where the perpetrator first met his 14-year-old victim online in September 2018. "[Kayastha] later exchanged nude photographs and videos with the child, knowing that the child was under 18 years of age," a statement from the district attorney detailed, as reported by WHDH. Kayastha then took the egregious steps of arranging a physical encounter with the victim, further magnifying the severity of his actions.
The series of events that led to the conviction began when a staff member of the group home where the child lived noticed the signs of exploitation and reached out to the authorities. The Boston Globe reports that law enforcement successfully recovered online communications, including the exchanged illicit material, between Kayastha and the boy. The former doctor admitted to committing the sex act with the minor following their communications.
Reacting to the outcome of the trial, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III did not mince words about the defendant, saying, "The defendant was convicted of extremely disturbing and demented conduct involving a very vulnerable fourteen-year-old boy," as noted by WHDH. The conviction and the following sentencing serve not only as a reprimand but also as a clear message to those who might prey on the vulnerable: the law takes these transgressions seriously. After his conviction, Kayastha was immediately sentenced to 12 years in state prison, followed by 5 years of supervised probation.
Meanwhile, Southcoast Health, the parent company of St. Luke’s Hospital, has not responded to requests for comment regarding their former employee's conviction. The case has shed light on the need for vigilance within institutions and communities to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
