Accused fake Waikato DHB psychiatrist withdraws guilty pleas

Fake psychiatrist Mohamed Shakeel Siddiqui pictured in the Hamilton District Court last month when his sentencing was adjourned until today. Photo/Alan Gibson

A man who previously admitted forging documents to get a high-paying job as a psychiatrist in the Waikato has withdrawn his guilty pleas.

Mohamed Shakeel Siddiqui, 55, is alleged to have fraudulently gained an original copy of a degree in psychiatry and neurology issued by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) issued to a man of a similar name - Dr Mohammed Shafiuddin Siddiqui, who is an assistant professor in psychiatry at Southern Illinois University of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois.

As part of his alleged offending Siddiqui was paid a salary of $165,000 and was able to prescribe medication to mental health patients.

Siddiqui originally faced 13 charges but changed his plea to guilty at the start of his eight-day trial which was due to kick off in the Hamilton District Court in March.

However, he admitted four charges just minutes before it was scheduled to start.

He was due to he sentenced in court last month, before it was again adjourned until today.

Siddiqui, through lawyer Tom Sutcliffe, withdrew his guilty pleas.

Sutcliffe told Judge Glen Marshall he will withdraw as his lawyer - one of many Siddiqui has now used - and a new application for legal aid will need to be filed.

Judge Marshall told Siddiqui the matter has been in the system for "a considerable amount of time" causing inconvenience to potential victims and other court users and it needed to be resolved.

He set the matter down for timetabling to allow him to keep a close eye on developments.

Siddiqui was remanded in custody and will reappear via audio visual link later this month.