Sydney doctor Semir Farhan denies abusing six patients
Semir Farhan, 42, was arrested at his Casula home in April and charged with 14 offences allegedly committed against two men under his care at clinics in Narellan and Auburn.
The NSW Supreme Court heard on Tuesday he now faced 32 charges after a further four complainants were identified as part of the ongoing investigation.
Among the charges are 28 counts of aggravated sexual touching under authority, two counts of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent and one of aggravated indecent assault.
The GP's barrister Matthew Johnston SC, however, told the court there were serious concerns over the police probe which he described as 'in my submission, poor'.
Some of the charges 'simply could not have occurred', Mr Johnston said, owing to issues with the dates identified or the evidence from alleged victims.
The court heard Mr Farhan had previously faced trial over similar allegations made by two separate complainants last year.
He was found not guilty and acquitted of all charges after the trial in May 2024.
Those proceedings meant Mr Farhan was supervised at work by practice monitors who Mr Johnston said had still not been interviewed by police.
That was despite Mr Farhan's legal team advancing that a monitor was present at the time some of the alleged offences were said to have taken place.
Mr Johnston said the failure 'to properly investigate is a significant factor' and foreshadowed the claims would be defended at a 'hotly contested trial'.
The Crown prosecutor conceded the case against Mr Farhan was 'not without issue' but said 'this investigation is in its rudimentary stages'.
'The Crown accepts there are some issues … but the Crown would say not all of the offences with which Mr Farhan has been charged suffer the evidentiary issue that's been brought to light,' she said.
She argued some of the complainants may have given the wrong date to investigators when recalling the alleged incidents, and that some of the claims predated Mr Farhan's previous trial.
'It is not the entirety of the allegations that are put in issue or (over which) there has been significant doubt raised by the applicant,' the prosecutor said.
'The Crown would raise there are ongoing investigations.
'The Crown would submit the nature of the offending is similar among six unrelated victims, and that is compelling.'
In granting bail, Acting Justice Derek Price said it was clear 'there are issues with not only the timing of some of the charges but also the applicant's capacity to commit some of the offences'.
The two practice monitors who supervised Mr Farhan 'never saw anything inappropriate while monitoring the applicant', he told the court.
Justice Price said that on his review of the documents before the court 'there is a reasonable possibility the Crown case against the applicant will not be proven beyond reasonable doubt'.
Mr Farhan was granted bail after a family member offered to forfeit $500,000 if the doctor failed to appear at future court dates.
Under his bail conditions he must also not practice as a medical practitioner, not approach his previous workplaces in Auburn and Narellan, and can only enter a medical facility if he is a patient himself.
Justice Price ordered Mr Farhan turn in his passport and report daily to police while on bail.
He asked the doctor if he understood the stringent conditions that had been imposed on him.
'Understood, Your Honour,' the GP replied. 'Thank you, Your Honour.'
Mr Farhan is next due to face Burwood Local Court on July 30.
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