Pharmacy Board suspends pharmacist amid allegations he sold steroids to outlaw bikies
An Essendon pharmacist accused of supplying steroids to organised crime groups including bikies has been suspended while his case is investigated.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A pharmacist accused of supplying steroids to organised crime groups has been suspended from practising indefinitely while his case is investigated.
Antoine Yacoub, 40, was arrested at his Essendon clinic in April and charged with a string of fraud and drug trafficking offences.
Police allege Mr Yacoub used his medical qualifications to obtain anabolic steroids and other prescription drugs before selling them to criminals including outlaw bikies.
The Pharmacy Board of Australia suspended Mr Yacoub on Wednesday, meaning he can no longer practise anywhere in Australia.
His suspension comes as “a temporary measure to protect the public while the Board continues its investigation,” a Pharmacy Board spokeswoman confirmed.
“Any future update to his registration will be reflected on the register of practitioners.”
Mr Yacoub graduated with a bachelor of pharmacy from Monash University in 2006 before registering as a practitioner in late 2007, the register shows.
Last year, police began investigating his clinic for selling performance enhancing drugs.
Detectives raided the Essendon practice in November, seizing steroids and imitation firearms. Mr Yacoub was questioned but released while investigators continued the probe.
Five months later, on April 5, police executed another search warrant – again seizing performance enhancers, also including testosterone.
The pharmacist was charged with multiple counts of forgery, obtaining drugs by false representation, possessing prescription medication and unauthorised retailing of poisons or controlled substances, trafficking a drug of dependence, trafficking anabolic steroids and trafficking testosterone.
His defence lawyer, Hassan Hamka, declined to comment.
Mr Yacoub will face Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on October 19.
Mushroom cook’s husband returns to the stand as murder trial continues
Simon Patterson is set to enter the witness box for his third day of evidence in the murder trial of his estranged wife, mushroom cook Erin Patterson. FOLLOW LIVE
Two dead, child fighting for life after horror crash in East Gippsland
A girl and a woman have been flown to hospital while two people died in the smash in Briagolong.