Respected doctor guilty on ice charge

A LEADING obstetrician has admitted he drove with the drug ice in his system on a suburban Gold Coast street.

Ashraf Hanafy, 57, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to one count of drug driving.

The court was told police stopped his black Porsche on Baron St, Reedy Creek, just before 2pm on June 15.

Hanafy’s lawyer Michael McMillan, of McMillan Criminal Law, applied for a work licence so Hanafy could see patients.

“His capacity to earn income was immediately stopped (when charged) but there is now a conditional return to (medical) practice which has been issued,” he said.

The obstetrician’s medical registration was suspended when he was charged.

Late last month Hanafy had his medical licence returned after winning an appeal in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

A number of conditions have been put in place on Hanafy practising medicine including he be supervised by another medical practitioner and cease practice immediately if no one is willing to supervise him.

Magistrate Mark Howden fined Hanafy $400 and suspended him from holding a full licence for two months.

A conviction was recorded yesterday.

Mr Howden granted a restricted work licence to Hanafy.

The conditions of his work licence include he only drive for work, keep a log book and he must not carry any passengers.

Hanafy was also allegedly found with nine grams of ice, magic mushrooms, 27-and-ahalf ecstasy tablets and cannabis in his Reedy Creek home.

He has been charged with multiple counts of drug possession.

The doctor is expected to appear in court on those charges on Friday.