Friday, September 20, 2024

Queens doctor, 72, charged with sex abuse of 2 patients, complimenting their penises

A 72-year-old doctor has been charged with molesting a patient a year and a half after being released without bail in a shockingly similar case at the same Queens urgent care center.
In both cases, Dr. Amir Sitafalwalla is accused of groping a patient’s privates after making inappropriate comments about their penises.
In the first arrest, in March 2023, Sitafalwalla was charged with sex abuse for an incident two months earlier, on Jan. 19, at Modern MD Urgent Care on Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven. He was released without bail.
The victim showed up for a COVID-19 test and was told to lie down and unbuckle his pants, at which point the doctor allegedly grabbed the victim’s penis, according to a criminal complaint.
“You have a nice penis,” the complaint quotes Sitafalwalla as allegedly saying. “Good length. I wish mine was like yours. Mine is not as thick.”
When the victim sat up he complied with the doctor’s request to pull down his mask, with the doctor allegedly grabbing his face and kissing him.
Released without bail in that case, Sitafalwalla was arrested again this past Sept. 9, for forcible touching and sex abuse. He is accused of victimizing a 21-year-old patient in the same urgent care location.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim showed up for an appointment and was told to drop his pants, at which point Sitafalwalla rubbed the victim’s inner thigh and groin.
“You have a beautiful penis,” the doctor allegedly said. “How big is your penis when it’s erect?”
The doctor, according to the complaint, also curled his finger into a curve and told the victim, “Your penis is straight, not curved like mine.”
Sitafalwalla, who lives in Manhasset, L.I., was released after his $10,000 bail was paid in the new case.
A worker who answered the phone Wednesday at the Modern MD Urgent Care in Woodhaven said they had no comment.
Investigators believed there could be more victims.  The NYPD released a mug shot Wednesday of the doctor and asked anyone who “may have contact” with him to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
“The Queens district attorney’s office and the Queens special victims squad are investigating these allegations and have specially trained professionals who can speak with victims in a safe environment,” police said.
Sitafalwalla is due back in court on Nov. 13 for both cases.
His lawyer Kyle Watters said his client “denies the allegations — and he looks forward to his day in court.”
“The defense is he didn’t do it,” Watters told the Daily News on Wednesday. “He sees hundreds of patients during the week. He has no recollection of ever meeting these people.” (Via NYDN)