A Los Angeles dentist has been accused of sexually abusing patients. The patients he would target the most were immigrants and women with low-income, reports show.
On Monday, 50-year-old Emad Fathy Moawad was charged with sexually abusing nine female patients. In addition, he’s also accused of preying on women with low income and women who are immigrants. Moawad’s officer was located on Beverly Boulevard and Normandie Avenue between 2013 and 2018, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney. The victims were all different ages, ranging from 27 to 73.
His arrest and charges come after sex crimes detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Bureau launched an investigation. One of the accusations comes from a female patient who sued Moawad in 2019 for sexual battery, sexual harassment, and sexual violence.
When the female patient was under anesthesia during a 2017 procedure, the lawsuit states that Moawad repeatedly “sexually battered, molested and assaulted her.” The suit goes on to say that Moawad’s staff could hear the woman yelling at him and accusing him of sexual assault. Moawad runs his dental business with his wife, Katerina.
“This case is especially concerning because its victims are low-income people and immigrants who are less likely to report crimes due to fear,” Dist. Atty. George Gascón said in a statement announcing the charges. “We are asking other possible victims to come forward and help us keep our community safe.”
Moawad is charged with nine counts of sexual battery by restraint, three counts of sexual penetration using force, and a single count of attempted sexual penetration by use of force.
