Man accused of sexually assaulting a phlebotomist after taken his blood

A MAN has been accused of sexually assaulting a phlebotomist by grabbing her breast after she had taken his blood at a west Dublin medical centre.

Resham Kandel had the case against him adjourned at Blanchardstown District Court.

After Judge Gerard Jones accepted jurisdiction to deal with the charge in the district court, he remanded the accused on continuing bail to consider a plea.

Mr Kandel, aged 48, with an address at Fortunes Lawn, Citywest is charged with sexual assault on the woman at a medical centre on a date in February this year.

Sergeant Walter Sweeney told the judge the Director Of Public Prosecutions was consenting to the case being dealt with in the district court if jurisdiction was accepted.

Outlining the allegations, he said the woman was at the medical centre, taking blood from the accused when he grabbed her breast while she was placing the plaster on his arm.

Mr Kandel was interviewed by gardai and made no admissions. The DPP directed that he was charged with sexual assault and he was arrested on August 21 for the purpose of charge, Sgt Sweeney said.

Judge Jones said he wanted to know the age of the alleged victim so he could consider the seriousness of the case.

Sgt Sweeney said he could not access the woman’s date of birth but he was told the woman in question was a phlebotomist.

He confirmed that the nature of the alleged assault was that it was on the outside of the woman’s clothes.

Judge Jones accepted jurisdiction after hearing the prosecution’s summary of evidence.

He granted free legal aid following an application by defence barrister Ciaran MacLoughlin. He also made an order for the prosecution to disclose material to the defence.

Mr Kandel has not yet entered a plea and the case was adjourned to November, in his absence.