Bassem Fouad: Disgraced Sydney dentist hears impact on victims before sentence

A dentist who sexually touched and indecently assaulted five patients, including a 15-year-old girl, while he performed procedures at his Mascot practice is awaiting sentence for his deviant crimes.

Disgraced Mascot dentist Bassem Fouad was present for a sentence hearing in Downing Centre on Friday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Two of five patients who were sexually touched and indecently assaulted have spoken about the “violation” and “shame” they felt at the hands of a disgraced Sydney dentist.

Brighton Le Sands man Bassem Magdy El-Badrawy Fouad, 52, was found guilty of eight charges following a jury trial in Downing Centre District Court in March.

The jury also returned a verdict of not guilty on one separate count of sexually touching another person.

Fouad appeared in the same court on Friday to hear two victim impact statements during his sentencing hearing.

The convictions relate to five separate patients who were sexually touched and indecently assaulted at his Mascot dental practice between 2015 and 2021.

During the trial, where Fouad pleaded not guilty to all offences, the court heard he rubbed his crotch against patients while performing procedures in his clinic, and touched the breasts of female patients.

Bassem Fouad waited five hours to exit Downing Centre. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

The court also heard Fouad would frequently press himself against his patients and placed his dentistry tools on their breasts.

One of the victims, who was only 15 years old at the time, said she wished had never walked into Fouad’s practice.

She said her mother had trusted him and took her to get braces fitted to improve her teeth.

“I felt scared, betrayed and most of all violated and I blame myself,” adding she isolated herself from friends and classmates. “I felt alone, dirty and scared.”

The young woman said she lost motivation at school, felt ashamed, had suicidal thoughts and had committed self harm.

The victim said her family were also affected at seeing her struggled, adding she had difficulty sleeping and felt like she was “trapped inside a box” she could not open.

Dentist Bassem Fouad attempted to dodge media on multiple occasions. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

“I am slowly realising it was not my fault and what happened to me played a big part in my depression,” she said.

Another of Fouad’s victims said she “felt shame” at not being able to defend herself, still felt panicked, had low self esteem and had lost trust in health professionals.

She said she had postponed appointments out of “fear and paranoia” and wouldn’t let her children attend appointments alone.

She said the trial had been very difficult where she felt “disregarded” and “belittled”.

Fouad was found guilty of four counts of aggravated sexual touching, three counts of indecently assaulting a victim under his authority and sexually touching a child aged between 10 and 16.

During sentencing submissions, Fouad’s barrister Jeffrey Clarke submitted his client’s offending was “opportunistic” and he was a person of prior good character.

Mr Clarke said Fouad maintained his innocence and the Crown prosecutor noted Foot expressed genuine remorse.

Mr Clarke submitted Fouad was unlikely to reoffend given the medical board had suspended his registration.

“This man is viewed very highly both professional and in his personal work in the community,” Mr Clarke said. “He seems to have led a pretty exemplary life before this.”

Mr Clarke submitted an appropriate sentence would be to allow Fouad to remain in the community subject to conditions.

Fouad – who remains on bail – will be sentenced on September 22.