KUALA LUMPUR – A court in Ireland has sentenced a Dublin-based Malaysian medical doctor to eight and a half years of prison after he was found guilty of grooming and sexually abusing a teenage girl, leaving her with “painful and grave trauma”.
According to media reports, Amirul Arif Mohd Yunos, 38, with an address in Hollystown, Dublin, was a practicing child psychiatrist at a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) centre in Clonskeagh when he committed the offence, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Checks by Scoop show he is registered under the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).
The victim, who was 15 when most of the incidents occurred between May and June 2023 and 16 when the final offence happened in September 2023, was not formally his patient. Her parents, who knew, Amirul Arif, had asked him to engage with their daughter – who was experiencing mental health difficulties – on an ad-hoc basis.
The health practitioner pleaded guilty to six counts of engaging in a sexual act with a child under 17, one count of sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
He has no prior criminal record and has been in detention for the past 14 months in connection with this offence.
The court was informed that while the victim and her parents requested Amirul Arif be named, they wished to remain anonymous. It was also revealed that the now 17-year-old is still undergoing severe and ongoing emotional distress.
Amirul Arif committed the offences at a number of locations including a car, his home, her home and his workplace.
In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecuting counsel Derek Cooney BL, the girl said the abuse has left her with “painful and grave trauma”.
“He made me believe the hugs I needed during a tough time led to sexual abuse,” she said, as quoted by media. The girl also said the abuse has had an “agonising” impact on her emotionally and psychologically.
Imposing sentence today, judge Orla Crowe said this was a “deeply serious matter”.
She noted that the victim was “not a patient per se” of the suspect’s, rather her parents had asked him for help on an ad-hoc basis.
The judge noted that Amirul Arif initially engaged in therapy sessions with the girl at her home, but over time the nature of these sessions changed.
The judge said the victim impact statement highlighted the “very grave” and ongoing effects on the girl and these effects “should have been apparent to this offender, given his professional insight”.
She also highlighted Amirul Arif’s “professional standing, insight and training”.
“He had qualified in this country and had been training in the area of psychology. He would have and ought to have been better placed than most.”
She said the aggravating factors also included the grooming behaviour, his professional and social standing, the impact on the victim and the escalating nature of the criminal acts.
“This is offending that simply has to be marked with the imposition of a significant custodial sentence,” judge Crowe said, setting a sentence of 12 years.
She noted that the mitigation included an early guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and his expressions of remorse.
The judge said the court had reviewed testimonials, Amirul Arif’s apology letter, and a psychological report.
She highlighted that the psychological report mentioned he had a “promising career” but due to his crimes, he will not be able to work in this field in Ireland in the future.
The judge said Amirul Arif is “very fortunate his community and wife have stood by him”, referring to the testimonials submitted to the court.
She imposed a sentence of eight years and six months, backdated to when he went into custody. – December 12, 2024