A former cosmetic doctor who was barred from practising has been fined $100,000 for continuing to treat patients.
Mohamad Anwar was given the fine – the largest imposed for such an offence – at Melbourne magistrates’ court on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to four charges of holding himself out as a registered medical practitioner when he was not.
The charges were laid after an investigation by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. On 19 August Anwar was suspended by the Ahpra board, which meant he could not practise.
The court heard on Thursday that a few weeks after being suspended, Anwar continued to practise at the Victorian Cosmetic and Laser Clinic.
In August the Herald Sun reported that Anwar, who also practised under the name Dr Faizal Anwar, was being sued by at least 12 women who allege he performed procedures such as facelifts and breast surgery that left them scarred and traumatised.
The chief executive of Ahpra, Martin Fletcher, said the fine should send a strong message to unscrupulous practitioners.
“This outcome makes clear that Ahpra will use its full powers to prosecute anyone who is putting the public at risk through this unlawful behaviour,” he said.
“I encourage patients to check our national register of practitioners when seeing a health practitioner who should be registered.”
