Cumhur Jimmy Keskin: Evolution Supplements bodybuilder in court
The boss of a muscle supplements business has faced court on allegations he imported banned substances to supply members of Sydney’s bodybuilding fraternity. A court heard he allegedly imported human growth hormones and other supplements deemed dangerous by Australian authorities.
Inner West
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A bodybuilding business director accused of importing and selling huge stashes of illegal supplements including human growth hormones has faced court.
Cumhur Keskin, 37, also known as Jimmy, from Bankstown, was arrested last week and slapped with 22 charges including 11 counts of importing illegal tier 1 goods and seven counts of supplying prohibited drugs.
He was also charged with knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, being found with $49,700 suspected to be the proceeds of crime and attempting to cover up his company’s funds and assets from January to July 2020 in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
Keskin, who lives in Olympic Park with his wife and toddler, was the sole director and secretary of Evolution Supplements Australia.
The father-of-one, originally from Turkey, did not appear for a mention at Burwood Local Court on Monday as he was checked in to Concord Hospital for mental health treatment and his lawyer made an application for bail.
The Commonwealth prosecutor Michael Tsiavlis said there were two co-accused including his wife and his sister-in-law Feliz Dur and said strict conditions would need to be imposed if he was released on bail due to a “risk of further offending of his commercial enterprise.”
The prosecutor called for his passport to be handed to police, no interaction with the co-accused Ms Dur, not to operate his online business and for him to unlock his phone to police for checks.
His lawyer said no interaction with one of the co-accused, his wife, would be difficult because of their relationship.
“That would be an onerous hardship to the accused,” he told the court.
Yet magistrate Kate Thompson said the restriction would be limited to the third co-accused, his sister in law.
Keskin is also facing a Federal Court lawsuit for allegedly advertising supplements that are deemed “dangerous to health” and illegal for sale, supply and use according to The Therapeutic Goods Act.
His lawyer told the court proceedings were underway with the (Therapeutic Goods Administration) TGA committee and the condition of not operating his online business has already been made.
Court documents allege Keskin imported multiple stashes of prohibited goods including human growth hormones Arim-RX, Centaurus as well as Clenbuterol, Superdrol and Methaquad Extreme, on eight occasions between January and July this year – even after a Federal court case against him was filed in March.
Magistrate Thompson granted Keskin bail ordering him to return to his Olympic Park home after he checked out of hospital and to hand in his passport.
He was also ordered to report daily to Auburn police station, not to be in contact with Feliz Dur, not to operate any online business and to unlock his mobile when directed by police.
A Sydney Local Health District spokesman confirmed he was still in hospital.
A TGA spokeswoman said the Secretary of the Department of Health has initiated proceedings against Cumhur Keskin and Evolution Supplements Australia.
“We are aware of the charges made against Mr Keskin in local courts. These charges are separate to the proceedings commenced by the Department in which it is alleged that advertising by Evolution Supplements Australia and Mr Keskin included references to Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMS),” the spokeswoman said.
She said SARMS were “experimental medicines” that have not been approved for human use and were linked to liver failure, increased heart risk and stroke.
“Allegations also include the unlawful advertising of prescription only substances the use of which should always be monitored by a doctor as well as the unlawful advertising of schedule 10 substances which are of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply and use,” she added.
“Importing, supplying or possessing SARMs without a valid prescription, license or authority is illegal.
Keskin will return to court in September.
The two co-accused are still before the courts.