FUKUOKA -- A Fukuoka gynecologist avoided jail time despite a conviction for multiple counts of indecently assaulting his patients after the Fukuoka District Court suspended the sentence.

Masahiro Hirajima, 43, the gynecologist, was found guilty on two counts of indecent assault after he molested women while pretending he was giving them a physical examination.

He was found not guilty of a third count and managed to stay out of prison when the court suspended the 2-year jail term it handed him for four years.

"Yours were wicked acts that took advantage of your position as a gynecologist," Presiding Judge Hiromi Suzuki said in handing down the ruling before attention was turned to the third count Hirajima faced. "It's not possible to say there was indecent intent involved."

Hirajima, who had entered a not guilty plea, has already appealed the ruling.

Court records showed that in March and April 2006, Hirajima performed indecent acts on a 26-year-old woman and 16-year-old girl who came to his Fukuoka clinic after he told them he was examining them. He took photos of their private parts and faces.

He was also charged with indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl in the same way, but the court ruled that had not been the case.

"You cannot rule out the possibility that the girl may have mistaken a gynecological examination for indecent assault," Suzuki said.

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