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A Quebec doctor has been convicted on two counts of assault and one count of counselling a person to commit an offence that was ultimately not carried out. Quebec Court Judge Frédéric Bénard delivered the verdict against Dr. Sanjeev Sirpal following a trial held in Laval, Quebec.
Doctor Asked Girlfriend to Fabricate Diary Entry
Judge Bénard found that Sirpal asked his then-girlfriend to create a false diary entry. The fabricated entry was intended to suggest she had witnessed one of his patients displaying a Nazi symbol and making a racist remark in a Montreal-area waiting room.
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According to the judge, Sirpal urged the woman to invent the story in order to discredit that patient. The patient had previously filed a complaint against Sirpal with Quebec’s provincial medical college. The scheme, therefore, appeared designed to undermine the credibility of someone who had raised concerns about the doctor.
Two Assault Convictions Also Handed Down
In addition to the counselling offence, Judge Bénard convicted Sirpal of assaulting his ex-girlfriend on two separate occasions. The assaults took place in August and December 2020.
However, the judge acquitted Sirpal on two other charges. Those charges involved dangerous driving and attempting to obstruct the course of justice. The court therefore found him guilty on three of the total counts against him.
Judge Found Complainant’s Account Credible
During the trial, Sirpal and the complainant offered opposing versions of events. Judge Bénard acknowledged the conflicting accounts directly in his courtroom remarks. Nevertheless, he concluded that the woman’s version of events was credible and accepted her testimony over Sirpal’s.
The case will return to court on October 15 for a sentencing hearing. At that point, the judge will determine the appropriate penalty for the three offences on which Sirpal was convicted. The outcome of that hearing will mark the next significant development in the case against the Quebec doctor.
