A high profile doctor in Chatham, who was accused of assaulting his wife, has had his charges dropped.
Dr. Pervez Faruqi's case was resolved with a peace bond in Chatham court on Tuesday. Dr. Faruqi, through his lawyer Laura Joy, promised to keep the peace for 12 months and to follow certain court conditions.
The 59-year-old is to have no communication with his wife, is to keep away from her and her residence, and is under a weapons ban.
A peace bond is a court order that requires another person to “keep the peace and be of good behaviour” and obey conditions, such as not to contact the complainant or to come near their property.
The person who enters into a peace bond does not receive a criminal record. However, if one of the conditions imposed is breached, the person may be charged with a criminal offence.
Joy told the court entering into a peace bond is "no admission of any wrongdoing."
The court heard Faruqi had an argument with his wife over work keys.
Faruqi was charged with an assault that was alleged to have occured on or about August 16, 2023, and assault described as choking, suffocating or strangling between January 1, 2023 and January 16, 2023.
The charges were laid on August 30, 2023 in Chatham, according to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Dr. Faruqi has been married for 21 years and has three children.
Dr. Faruqi was Chief of Medical Staff at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), but has been on leave since January 2024.
CKHA previously said that Dr. Faruqi did not lose his hospital privileges and would continue working as a Paediatrician at CKHA.