A 72-year-old Queens pediatrician was arrested Tuesday on charges that he sexually abused two of his patients, a 15-year-old girl and a 20-year-old woman, according to police. Dr. Fazul Yusuf now faces multiple counts tied to incidents investigators say unfolded over the course of his treatment of the two victims.
Police said the NYPD Special Victims Squad investigated multiple incidents involving the two female victims before taking Yusuf into custody, according to News12 Brooklyn. Yusuf was charged with two counts of third-degree sexual abuse, forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.
Charges Reflect State Definition of Sexual Contact Without Consent
Under New York law, a person commits sexual abuse in the third degree when they subject another person to sexual contact without that person's consent, according to New York Penal Law § 130.55. The statute also includes an affirmative-defense provision concerning incapacity. It is not clear from the available charging information what specific conduct or dates underlie each of the counts against Yusuf.
The investigation, as described in the same report, involved a 15-year-old female victim and a 20-year-old female victim, both identified by police only as patients. The NYPD has asked that additional potential victims come forward, a request that typically signals investigators believe there may be others affected by a suspect's conduct in cases involving a medical provider with ongoing patient access.
Separate 2006 Case Involving the Same Surname Remains Unconfirmed
A New York court opinion on file with the state's courts system describes a defendant surnamed Yusuf who was charged in June 2006 with second-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and who was convicted after trial, with sentencing addressed in a February 13, 2007 ruling, according to the opinion published by nycourts.gov. That record does not establish any connection to Dr. Fazul Yusuf, and nothing in the available reporting ties the two cases together.
Beyond the charges themselves, the particulars of this week's case remain limited in public view. The exact locations and dates of the alleged incidents have not been detailed, and there has been no response made available from Yusuf, his legal representation, his employer, or the alleged victims.
How to Report Information
Anyone with information related to the case or who believes they may have been a victim is asked to contact the NYPD Sex Crimes hotline at 1-212-267-7273. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
