Dr Vahid Reza Adib, the partner of former Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, will be allowed to continue practising medicine despite facing serious criminal charges, including rape. The medical regulator has decided against taking immediate action against the 65-year-old bariatric surgeon to allow for due process.
Details of the Charges
Adib is facing three counts of rape, two charges of unlawful detention, and one charge of sexual assault. The alleged attack occurred at his $7 million Gold Coast beachside unit on March 30. The charges also allege that Adib 'unlawfully and indecently assaulted [the alleged victim], bringing into contact part of [her] genitalia with the mouth of [the accused]'.
The Alleged Victim
The Daily Mail revealed that the alleged victim is almost half Adib's age and also works in the medical industry. She is among ten people Adib is prohibited from contacting under his bail conditions, including individuals known to the alleged victim.
Medical Registration Status
Adib's medical registration remains in place with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). A spokesperson for the Office of the Health Ombudsman stated: 'The Act requires, in certain circumstances, that practitioners be given an opportunity to respond to any proposed action through a formal show cause process.'
Court Proceedings
Adib is next due to appear in court on July 7, with the court ordering a police brief of evidence to be prepared by June 23. Detectives seized material from his home in Burleigh Heads on April 30, before he was charged at Southport Police Station the following day.
Palaszczuk's Position
Annastacia Palaszczuk has often been seen staying with Adib at the home where the alleged rape took place, but she has not publicly addressed the charges since his arrest.
Adib's Legal Response
Adib is renowned for his weight-loss surgery clinic at Brisbane's private Wesley Hospital and has been Palaszczuk's partner since they met five years ago. His lawyer, Dan Rogers, said: 'Like all persons accused of a crime, he is presumed to be innocent and intends to vigorously defend the charges.'
Real Estate Portfolio
Adib has a substantial real estate portfolio, with land records showing he or his companies acquired properties worth $42 million in south-east Queensland. The portfolio includes a riverside home, beachside apartment, a roadside shopping strip with medical tenants, and office space.
Following the charges, UnitingCare confirmed that Adib is no longer an accredited surgeon at its Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. The Daily Mail contacted the Office of the Health Ombudsman for further comment.
