Top doc bailed hours after turning himself into police at advice of lawyers in Alice Springs
A medico is set to leave the Territory as part of a judge’s approved bail plan, after he turned himself over to cops – who charged him with historical sexual offences. Find out more.
A senior medical professional is leaving the Red Centre, after he handed himself into the cops – at the advice of his lawyers – and was charged with historical sexual offences before being granted bail, all within hours in Alice Springs.
The doctor, who cannot be named due to a statutory suppression on the matter, will leave Alice Springs in December and head interstate, as part of a bail plan approved by Judge John McBride.
In granting him bail, Judge McBride said the doctor is a “good candidate to honour a bail commitment,” but set him a number of conditions he has to follow.
The doctor surrendered his diplomatic passport and his normal passport after paying a $10,000 surety for his bail.
The doctor fronted the Alice Springs Local Court on November 19, hours after he handed himself over to police, his defence lawyer Brooke Houen told the court.
While NT Police previously said his arrest was the result of a 21 month investigation, on Wednesday Ms Houen told the court her client presented to police at 6am on Wednesday morning at the advice of his lawyers.
Her client is a “family man” and a “doctor of very high standing” in Alice Springs, Ms Houen told the court, adding he has no prior convictions.
The medical professional was charged by NT Police last Wednesday with one count of sexual intercourse without consent, and two counts of gross indecency without consent.
At his mention in court, which started at 9.30am – hours after the charges were laid – Ms Houen said all the charges are contested, and indicated the matter could progress to a jury trial in the Supreme Court.
She sought bail for her client, which police prosecutor Scott Johnson opposed.
“It’s my submission if the defendant is found guilty, and I do submit the prosecution case is a strong one, he’s facing a term of actual imprisonment, and so keeping him on remand would not be prejudiced in these circumstances,” Mr Johnson said.
He also took issue with Ms Houen’s bail proposal, which would see the doctor barred from contacting the two complainants and leaving Alice Springs in over a month.
Specifically, he further alleged that when the doctor is under the influence of drugs “he behaves in a way that is sexually aggressive”.
But Ms Houen said her client is not facing any drug related charges, and is willing to submit to drug testing as required.
The doctor was granted bail 10am Wednesday, having spent a total close to four hours behind bars after handing himself over to police.
Other conditions to his bail include a ban on using alcohol or any other prohibited drugs.
He will have to submit to random drug and alcohol testing at the whim of police, and has been ordered to reside at an address in Alice Springs.
After December 20, he will head interstate, where he will have to also report weekly to the local police station.
Due to statutory suppression on the matter – as required by NT Law – this masthead cannot name where he will reside interstate, as it may identify him.
The doctor’s matter will return to the Alice Springs Local Court December 11, where he is excused from attending if legally represented.
His medical registration was suspended earlier this year, but no mention of the suspension was made in court during his matter being heard.
Originally published as Top doc bailed hours after turning himself into police at advice of lawyers in Alice Springs
