SEXUAL HEALTH: Forbidden touch

It was 8pm when my phone rang, startling me. Looking at the number on the screen, I wondered who could be calling from a landline at night. In the daytime such a call would be understandable as it could be coming from an office, but after dusk …? My train of thought was interrupted by the realisation that the call could be coming from a hospital, so I picked it.

 “This is inspector John from the police station,” barked the man on the other end, “some criminals here want to talk to you; they say you can help them.”

At this, confusion engulfed me. Could any of my relatives have fallen into problems with the police? Before I could make head or tail of what was going on, a second voice came on:

“Hallo! Hallo? It’s Gabriel … your patient. I am here with my wife; come and help us!”

The inspector then came back on line and ordered me to go to the station. Not sure about what was going on, I drove to the police station, where I found Gabriel and his wife Rebecca in Inspector John’s office.

I shook everyone’s hands and turned my attention to Inspector John, who was smiling at me sheepishly. Gabriel and Rebecca were visibly shaken. The inspector directed me to occupy the empty seat and I obliged. I told him I was not a lawyer, so I was not sure how I could help the couple.

“Doctor, do you remember advising us that we should try out our sexual fantasies? We did that and got arrested,” Gabriel explained with his eyes cast down.

It is true that, at the sexology clinic, we encourage couples to act out their sexual fantasies to keep the fire burning and to avoid losing interest in each other sexually. We have learnt from some couples that they are driven to extra-marital affairs by the desire to try new acts, and finding it difficult to initiate that discussion with their spouses, they seek gratification outside their marriage. This has led to turbulence in many relationships and even caused divorce.

We therefore encourage individuals to venture into new territories with their spouses as a way of enhancing intimacy. Couples who do this continuously keep lovemaking fresh and have stable relationships.

“So what offense has been committed?” I asked after explaining my point to the trio.

SEX AT A CAR PARK

“These two were arrested by my officers while having sex at a car park,” the inspector replied.

“My officers were alerted by the car park attendant and immediately swung into action. They are lucky they were not stoned by the public!”

A number of couples seen at the sexology clinic have expressed the desire to have sex in a public place. Some want to have sex on the beach, others in a swimming pool, some in a public park, and others by the roadside inside their cars and so on. Gabriel and Rebecca were bold enough to fulfil their fantasy, not knowing that the law prohibits sexual intercourse in a public place. The law also prohibits indecent exposure which is the exposure of one’s private parts in public. The offense gets worse when done in the presence of children. As stipulated in the Sexual Offences Act, such an offense can earn one a jail term of up to five years.

“Very well explained doctor,” interjected Inspector John, “so your clients have broken the law and we need to charge them!”

Tears were rolling down Rebecca’s face and Gabriel was stammering incoherently. I explained to the inspector that my clients had good intentions and did not have knowledge of the law. While I did not support people breaking the law, I begged the inspector’s indulgence in pardoning them.

“It would be embarrassing if this went public,” Rebecca said between sobs, “Please have mercy on us!”

The inspector gazed at the couple  thoughtfully, then shouted to one of his officers who came running from an adjacent office.

“Give them a warning in writing. Next time you should take them to court!” he said. The officer immediately drafted a warning letter and the inspector signed it.

We all thanked the inspector in unison.

“Will you allow me to kiss my wife to thank her for being brave?” Gabriel asked with renewed energy. The inspector nodded with that sheepish smile. Gabriel did it then grabbed his wife’s hand and rushed out of the office as if running from danger, letter of warning in one hand. I thanked the inspector again and promised to educate my clients on the dangers of public display of intimate acts.