KINGMAN - The court has deferred the remaining five months of Dr. Ilangovan Govindarajan's jail term so that he can be turned over to the custody of Immigration and Customs.
ICE currently has a hold on the doctor because of his immigration status. That hold prevents him from seeing patients on terms of a work release, which was part of a six-month jail sentence.
The deferment will allow Govindarajan to first clear up the hold, then return to Mohave County to serve out the remaining four months and 25 days of his sentence. Govindarajan is from India and came to Kingman in the late 1990s.
Judge Lee Jantzen, who sentenced Govindarajan in the case, said his intention in the sentence was to allow the defendant have a work release.
The time Govindarajan would spend in ICE custody would not count toward the six-month sentence. He began his sentence Sept. 21. While in ICE custody, Govindarajan would be held at their facility in either Florence or Eloy, Ariz.
Govindarajan, known as Dr. Govan to his patients, pleaded guilty to six counts of aggravated assault on healthcare workers after originally being charged with 16 counts of sexual abuse, 15 counts of aggravated assault and one count of assault.
He was accused of inappropriately touching female employees between 2003 and 2008. He is still allowed to practice medicine, although his medical license is currently under censure and on probation for five years.
Complaints against Dr. Govan included allegations that he touched nurses and other staff over their clothing on their breasts and buttocks. An investigation by Kingman Regional Medical Center identified 14 staff members who said they were inappropriately touched.
Dr. Govan's lawyer said the deferment arrangement, which was agreed to by the prosecution, was not a way to get around his jail sentence but rather to clear up the hold so that when the doctor does return to jail, he will be able to see patients during the day.
He added that the charges against Dr. Govan were not classified as deportable offenses but that the final determination will be made by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.
Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2009
Article comment by:
Maxine
Christina
speaking as a woman that was harassed once or twice, I know that a quiet conversation with my knee to the perps groin with no witnesses goes a long way. So does going to the supervisor of the offending person. This day and age when there are programs that employers are forced to make employees attend, teaching them what not to do and how to report it, does it seem strange that KRMC would ignore complaints until they received 14 of them? Come on.
I went to risk management when a Dr. thought I was faking a stroke, because of my age. They acted immediately. turns out it was a brain seizure. but you don't ask your patient what do you want me to do? Don't tell me that no one could visit their H.R. Personnel and not receive guidance.
I know most everyone in that department over the years. If the hospital supervisors did not act it should be their butts in the sling along with Govan as they did him and the alledged victims a HUGE DIS-SERVICE. So the real question is why did the hospital do nothig from 2003to 2006? Hmmm.
Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
The doctor is a life savor if we were to add up the lives he has saved or cured and compared it to the minute accusations we would owe this man allot. Leave him alone, People in kingman thrive on people going to jail for nothing. You make mountains out of a mo hill. This town is sicking.
Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2009
Article comment by:
Christina
To those of you who can NOT provide a name I am ashamed of you. You obviously have extreme opinions. I would like to state my own....,If you were to have a family member that was inappropriately touched by someone(say a doctor) wouldn't you be upset, or furious?! Wouldn't you encourage your family member to go forward? OR if you were the person being inappropriately groped, by a superior at the business you worked for, wouldn't you feel that you would be retaliated against? AND Many of us are sole providers for our homes and thus can't afford to lose our jobs.
My sympathy goes to the doctors family, but that is as far as it goes. I am a witness of the crime......do the crime, serve the time!!
Posted: Friday, October 30, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
This is rediculous. It is so clear that this man was misrepresented & misguided by his own attorney who failed to protect his client's attorney and made Dr.Govan to plead guilty in order to serve the community by treating his patients not to mention the housecalls he does, this doctor is a honorable kind human being must be treated with respect. Instead you all are coming to conclusions that he is a monster by coming to judgement believing these so called nurses from KRMC who happened to be sexually harrassed a long time ago but never took any action and made complaints after all these years but all came forward at the same time after the discovery of a proposed new hospital in Kingman and Dr.Govan is a big investor for the building of the hospital. How many times we plead guilty for traffic violations when we know we are innocent because when you go in front of the judge, it will be your word against the police officer's word. We always do that because the guilty plea deal is so much better, cheaper and practical than going against the cop where you may have to deal with the same cop always if you live the area as you will be targetted in the future. All of you please wake up and see the reality. Prosecution has found a doctor who put his trust in his attorney's hands to protect him but his attorney has failed him big time and now this Dr.Govan is paying a price big time. When the attorney advised him take the plea, attorney should have known the consequences but here it's clear of incomptency. Please set this man free and let him take care of his patients. Dr.Govan should have hired an attorney like Johnnie Cochrane for the same price who could have fried all these so called nurses on the witness stand to get the real truth out of them. What s shame! I am sure this doctor pays more taxes than all these judges and prosecuters put together but his rights are not protected at all. He is paying his taxes and what is the differance if he has the citizenship or permanent residency? He is not paying less because he is not a citizen. Immigration should investigate these so called nurses first by making all of them do polygraph test and then decide on the facts.
Posted: Friday, October 30, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
@Art
"(he is NOT guilty)"
Thank you Matlock. I never would have guessed that his pleading guilty was all some sort of elaborate legal trick. Can't wait for the big moment of vindication when it is revealed it was really Col. Mustard.
Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
He is just one more victum of the KRMC medical establishment, Thank god for the new hospital now we need new Doctors whose pockets are not being lined by KRMC regardless of what kind of care they provide. God help us all.
Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Kenneth Langworthy
This so-called Dr. is a convicted molester of women in the workplace and an obvious pervert. He should be deported to his home country at the end of his sentence and not allowed to return to the U.S.. I don't understand why the public can't understand that he's a criminal who plead guilty to multiple crimes.
Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Article comment by:
Art
Good God! Haven't they done enough to Dr. Govan? No, I guess the rabid fanatics won't stop until they have him burned at the stake. Even if he were "guilty as charged" (he is NOT guilty) the punishment is far far far in excess of any justice. And yet, the rabid mob screams for more more more punishment for the little brown man from a far away land.
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Article comment by:
A patient.
Those of you who have a negative comment about this Doctor most likely hsve never been treated by Dr.Govan nor have their wives/husbands,sons or daughters. I believe that had they been they would know what kind of man they are talking about.Common sence tells me that if one female including nurses don't like someone their co-workers will stick with them. I for one HAVE been treated by Dr.Govan and I know he has shown more respect and given better care than most of the nurses in that hospital. If it had been another Doctor or maybe a younger one would any of this have come about? Ask the nurses.
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
deport him, he broke the law
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Roy Trempy
I would like to donate 30 days of my time in jail for the release of Dr.Govan for 30 days to treat persons needed by him in this community.
Maybe there will be others to do the same donating to help this Doctor & his patiients ....& please do not be afraid to publish this in your paper.
The Dr.s attorney can contact me thru Dr. Govans office.
The nurses there have also been told by me that I would do same...
Just another vietnam vet
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
@NNP
"....because of some wild accusations his life is ruined."
Just keep chanting to your self..."He never pled guilty...he never pled guilty", until you're convinced that's what happened.
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Ro
Did you read what you wrote before you published it here in comments? Did any of you ever even meet Dr. Govan? Do any of you know what his goals are for his (and our community's) future?
Dr Govan is one of the best doctors I have seen in this area in the past 30 years! He handled most, if not all, of Lingenfelter's patients when he retired. This coupled with the masses that showed up at his door!
I have never seen Dr. Govan behave inappropriately toward a co-worker or a patient. I have witnessed his caring and concern with others as well as with my own extended family when I became ill. I have seen and heard him on the phone going that extra step (or mile) that shows the difference between an "okay" doctor and a "GREAT" doctor"!
This community needs him and other doctors just like him. Don't be blinded by people who have other agendas. Who can't see past their own racial ideals. By people who want to keep Kingman from growing and flourishing with new blood and new ideas.
We need more docotors like Dr. Govan!
Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Just goes to show how lenient the judicial system in Mohave County is. It's the "good ole boy" regime here. The monies that were spent for himj to come here from another prominent figure in town should be looked at as well. Background checks??, I don't think so. This is America, right? So when someone moves here, they should become citizens if they are to stay for any length of time, not all the ongoing permanent residency status. Get a job, no welfare, no SS and citizenship mandatory, then comply with ALL the laws, if you don't, pay the price that is demanded by law.
Posted: Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Wow it is exteremely obvious none of you people have any clue about this man! He was one of Kingmans best doctors and because of some wild accusations his life is ruined. You all should be ashamed yourselves.
