Leading Gold Coast obstetrician doctor Ashraf Mohamed Hanafy allegedly caught with drugs

A leading obstetrician who delivered multiple Gold Coast babies per week has faced court after allegedly being caught with a stash of drugs including ice and magic mushrooms.

Ashraf Mohamed Hanafy leaves Southport Magistrates Court this morning.

A GOLD Coast obstetrician was caught with nine grams of ice, magic mushrooms, 27.5 ecstasy tablets and cannabis, it has been alleged.

Ashraf Mohamed Hanafy, 57, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court for the first time this morning to face charges of possessing dangerous drugs, possessing utensils relating to drugs and failing to take reasonable care disposing of a syringe.

Hanafy, who delivered multiple Gold Coast babies per week and is researching uterus transplants, was allegedly caught with the drugs after a raid on his Reedy Creek home on June 15, according to documents filed to the court.

A police affidavit filed to the court alleges police raided Hanafy’s home after the 57-year-old tested positive to the drug ice during a roadside drug test.

“During that search warrant, police located quantities of methylamphetamine (approximately 9 grams - over schedule), cannabis (approximately 136g), 27.5 MDMA tables and psilocybin (magic mushrooms - 8 grams),” the document said.

Ashraf Mohamed Hanafy leaves Southport Magistrates Court.

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.”

The affidavit also alleges police had conducted the roadside test because they had received “intelligence information” that Hanafy was involved with ice.

Hanafy was given bail in the watch-house on the condition he surrender his passport and not approach an international departure point.

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Hanafy’s lawyer Michael McMillan, of McMillan Criminal Lawyers, this morning attempted to have the doctor’s bail conditions changed so he could approach an airport.

“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.

“It would be like having bail refused for a public nuisance offence,” he said.

“It’s such a trivial offence and such a big punishment.”

Hanafy has been conducting research into uterus transplants.

Mr McMillan said Hanafy was also taking part in trials taking place in Europe and hoped to travel there.

In documents tendered to the court, Hanafy asserted he is not a danger of fleeing the country.

“I strongly assert 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.

“And I add here that 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 has family in the United States and Egypt.

The matter was adjourned to July 16.