A doctor who supervised sleep studies at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney has been found guilty of multiple charges of sexual assault and drink spiking of female patients.

Ali Khorami, a GP who was employed on night shifts as a technician at the Institute, was found guilty at the NSW District Court of 22 charges of aggravated indecent assault against four female patients in relation to incidents that occurred in 2018.

Dr Khorami was found guilty of committing sexual assaults on women aged between 16 and 29 while they were taking part in overnight sleep studies at the Institute clinic.

He was also found guilty of using intoxicating substances to commit indictable offence, after a patient complained he had spiked her orange juice with temazepam.

Dr Khorami denied the 25 charges, but was found guilty of 22 charges and is due to be sentenced at a later date.

The Institute said in a statement that it had implemented additional patient security measures and external audits of sleep studies after becoming aware of the allegations.

It said it had introduced new protocols so that all sleep technicians must be monitored by another staff member if they enter a patient’s room during a sleep study.

“The Woolcock Clinic notes that a former employee has been convicted of criminal charges in the District Court of NSW. The charges relate to the employee’s time at the Clinic. Woolcock is not a party to the court proceedings,” it said.

The Woolcock clinic has also established a Patient Liaison Team and is encouraging any patients who have questions or concerns to contact the clinic.