LONDON
Two men, including a doctor, have been charged in connection with female gential mutilation (FGM) in the UK and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ court on 15 April.
Dr Dahnoun Dharmasena has been charged with an alleged offense whilst working at Whittington Hospital in London 2012 and Hassan Mohamed has been charged with intentionally encouraging an offense of female gential mutilation.
Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service was asked to consider evidence in relation to this allegation of female genital mutilation by the Metropolitan Police Service. It was alleged that following a patient giving birth in November 2012, a doctor at the Whittington Hospital, in London, repaired the genital mutilation that had previously been performed on the patient, allegedly carrying out FGM himself."
"Having carefully considered all the available evidence, I have determined there is sufficient evidence and it would be in the public interest to prosecute Dr Dahnoun Dharmasena for an offense contrary to S1 (1) of the Female Genital Mutilation Act (2003).
"I have also determined that Hasan Mohamed should face one charge of intentionally encouraging an offense of FGM, contrary to section 44(1) of the Serious Crime Act (2007), and a second charge of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring Dr Dharmasena to commit an offense contrary to S1 (1) of the Female Genital Mutilation Act (2003)."
Female genital mutilation has been a specific criminal offense in England and Wales since 1985. The female genital mutilation Act 2003 repealed and replaced the 1985 Act making it also an offence for UK nationals or permanent UK residents to carry out female genital mutilation abroad, or to aid, abet, counsel or procure the carrying out of female genital mutilation abroad, even in countries where the practice is legal. The maximum penalty was also increased to 14 years imprisonment.
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