BABY DOC DRUG SHOCK
TOP OBSTETRICIAN ALLEGEDLY BUSTED WITH BIG STASH
ONE of the Coast’s top obstetricians and university professors was allegedly found with a huge drug stash in his Reedy Creek home, a court has been told.
Ashraf Mohamed Hanafy – who delivers hundreds of Gold Coast babies each year and is a leading researcher in uterus transplants – faces a battle to keep his medical licence after police allegedly found nine grams of ice, eight grams of magic mushrooms, 27.5 ecstasy tablets and cannabis during a raid on his home on June 15.
The raid followed a roadside drug test where he allegedly tested positive for ice.
The matter has allegedly been reported to the Health Ombudsman.
A LEADING obstetrician who delivered hundreds of Gold Coast babies was allegedly found with a huge drug stash in his Reedy Creek home, a court has been told.
Ashraf Mohamed Hanafy faces a battle to keep his medical licence after police allegedly found nine grams of ice, eight grams of magic mushrooms, 27.5 ecstasy tablets and cannabis during a raid on his home on June 15.
He yesterday faced Southport Magistrates Court on multiple dangerous drug possession charges and one charge each of possessing utensils relating to a drugs and failing to properly dispose of a syringe.
He is yet to enter a plea. Hanafy, 57, delivered multiple Gold Coast babies every week and is a leading researcher in uterus transplants.
His lawyer Michael McMillan, of McMillan Criminal Lawyers, yesterday told the court Hanafy was no longer able to work at the John Flynn Hospital and had question marks over his medical licence.
A spokesperson for Bond University, where he holds a position as an associate professor, told the Bulletin yesterday he had been suspended from contact with students.
A document to the court said police raided Hanafy’s home after he allegedly tested positive to ice during a roadside drug test.
The document also alleges police conducted the roadside test because they had received “intelligence information” that Hanafy was involved with the drug.
“During that search warrant, police located quantities of methylamphetamine (approximately nine grams – over schedule), cannabis (approximately 136g), 27.5 MDMA tablets and psilocybin (magic mushrooms – eight grams),” the document said.
Police allegedly then contacted the Queensland Health Ombudsman to report the matter.
“Dr Hanafy is a single male who lives alone,” the document said.
“He is also a professor for Bond University in the field of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.
“He is also a doctor at the John Flynn Hospital where he has responsibility for delivering multiple babies per week.”
Hanafy was given bail in the watch-house on condition he surrender his passport and not approach an international departure point.
Mr McMillan yesterday attempted to get the doctor’s passport back so he could travel interstate and also visit his sister in New York.
“He has lost his ability to work at John Flynn Hospital and will be excluded from the Bond teaching program,” Mr McMillan said.
Hanafy is also fighting to keep his ability to remain registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
“His bigger fight is with AHPRA than in this court,” Mr McMillan said.
Mr McMillan argued the loss of Hanafy’s ability to work for allegedly having the drug was far more severe than what he would get if convicted. He said it was not a large amount of drugs.
Magistrate Pamela Dowse replied: “That’s a lot.”
Mr McMillan said once the drug was analysed the pure weight would be close to five grams.
He said Hanafy was also part of a team conducting medical trials taking place in Europe and hoped to travel there.
In documents tendered to the court, Hanafy asserted he was not a danger of fleeing the country.
“I strongly reject that I would even think of leaving the country and my children behind – regardless of whether they are dependent on me or not,” he wrote.
“My life is on the Gold Coast: all my friends are here, my social activities are here and the vast bulk of my colleagues and patients are here.”
The documents show Hanafy moved to Australia in 1991 and became a citizen the next year.
Magistrate Dowse denied the request. She said Hanafy was too much of a risk of not returning to Australia. The court was told Hanafy had family in the US and Egypt.
The matter was adjourned to July 16.