Suppression continues for medical practitioner

ACCUSED: A Hawke's Bay medical practitioner charged with sex crimes had his name suppression continued in Hastings District Court today. PHOTO FILE

A Hawke's Bay medical practitioner charged with sex crimes has successfully argued for further name suppression.

The 40-year-old faces 13 charges including stupefying young men and indecently assaulting them.

The counts relate to four complainants.

The man appeared in Hastings District Court this morning and pleaded not guilty to all charges and asked for a trial by jury.

Defence lawyer Eric Forster, acting for the man's QC counsel, confirmed to Judge Bridget Mackintosh that his client was still practising, yet said he was "supervised in two forms".

It is alleged the man stupefied the young men then indecently touched them.
Some incidents are alleged to have taken place in a treatment cubicle, a toilet and darkened surgical room.

The charges relate to incidents alleged to have occurred between January and September last year.

Judge Mackintosh ordered a continuation of name suppression until the man's next court appearance in January.

The court heard he had surrendered his passport at the time of his arrest.