Content warning: This article includes references to sexual assault.
An assistant professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School turned himself in to the Providence Police Department Friday on one count of second-degree sexual assault charges, according to Major David Lapatin, commanding officer of PPD.
Mohammad Ibrahim, the assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine (research) in question, was arraigned in the Providence District Court. PPD had issued a warrant for arrest before Ibrahim turned himself in.
According to Rhode Island’s General Laws, an individual is guilty of second-degree sexual assault if they “engage in sexual contact with another person” when one of the following circumstances also exists: The accused individual “knows or has reason to know that the victim is mentally incapacitated, mentally disabled or physically helpless;” the accused individual “uses force, element of surprise or coercion;” or the accused individual “engages in the medical treatment or examination of the victim for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation.”
Lapatin declined to comment on whether the victim was a student.
PPD was first notified of the sexual assault case by the University’s Department of Public Safety on March 20, according to Lapatin.
Ibrahim is a current Brown employee on “administrative leave,” according to University Spokesperson Brian Clark. Before coming to the University, Ibrahim completed his PhD in 2022 at the University of South Alabama and worked as an assistant professor at Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology in Bangladesh.
Clark declined to comment on the situation, stating that the University is not “at liberty to speak to matters of personnel involving individual employees.”
“If concerns were raised about an employee issue, we would investigate those concerns and fully assess the details in consideration of the University’s policies,” Clark wrote in an email to The Herald.
DPS deferred to Clark’s response when asked for a comment.
Sexual Harm Acute Response & Empowerment Advocates are available to all Brown community members who seek free and confidential support after having been affected by experiences related to sexual harm. To make an appointment with a SHARE Advocate, you can request an appointment online, email bwell@health.brown.edu or call 401-863-2794.
The University’s Counseling and Psychological Services offer a range of mental health services for Brown community members, including crisis services, psychiatry and individual and group counseling. To schedule a CAPS appointment, call 401-863-3476.
Julia Vaz is the managing editor of newsroom and vice president on The Herald's 134th Editorial Board. Previously, she covered environment and crime & justice as a Metro editor. A concentrator in political science and modern culture and media, she loves watching Twilight (as a comedy) and casually dropping the fact she is from Brazil.
