Metro

Duane Reade pharmacist turned ‘free’ blood-pressure test into pervy breast exam for Lebanese fashion editor, $40M suit claims

A Lebanese fashion editor in Manhattan on business was sexually assaulted by a Duane Reade pharmacist claiming to give her a breast exam, according to a new $40 million lawsuit.

Hayat Ammouri, of Beirut, went to the branch of the drugstore chain at 575 Lexington Ave. on April 22 for medication, according to the Manhattan civil suit.

Pharmacist Monesh Hanoman, 26, of Brooklyn, offered to give Ammouri, 42, a free blood-pressure test, the suit states.

He then took Ammouri, a devout Muslim, behind a divider in the store and allegedly suggested she let him check her breasts for lumps, even though the store does not allow its pharmacists to perform such procedures.

“She agreed, reasonably thinking that this is a type of examination that could be offered by . . . a health-care professional wearing a white Duane Reade-issue robe . . . the distinctive dress of physicians.

“Hanoman then sadistically and perversely rubbed Ms. Ammouri’s breasts and shockingly pinched her nipples for approximately four minutes,” court papers allege.

The Laha Magazine editor returned to her Waldorf-Astoria hotel room and told her cousin about what happened, asking if it was normal. The cousin immediately contacted the store and the police. They were informed by a Duane Reade supervisor that Hanoman had been fired.

Ammouri is suing over the traumatizing experience, blaming the pharmacist’s co-workers for seeing but ignoring the alleged abuse and management for allowing it to happen.

“Things are settling in and she realizes she was sexually abused and molested,” said her attorney, Joseph Tacopina.

Reached at his Sunset Park home, the pharmacist’s father, Lachman Hanoman, did not believe his son would commit such an act.

“I brought him up and never had an issue with him,” Hanoman said.

A Duane Reade spokesman said, “We regret that this occurred.”