A New South Wales plastic surgeon has been accused of procuring and abusing eight underage girls, who were not his patients, in Sydney and Newcastle.
Double Bay plastic surgeon Richard Sackelariou, 69, was initially charged in November with abusing two underage girls he allegedly met online.
In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, crown prosecutor Kristy Mulley said there were Commonwealth and state charges and the number of child complainants was now eight.
Police documents tendered in court alleged the offending happened during 2021 and 2022.
Dr Sackelariou has been charged with 32 offences, including multiple counts of having sexual intercourse with a child, with the youngest being 13.
He was also charged with multiple counts of intentionally sexually touching a child between 10 and 16 years of age.
Doctor allegedly offered cash for sex
In police charge sheets tendered in court on Wedesday, the Hunter child abuse unit alleged a 15-year-old girl was offered $1,500 to have sex with the doctor.
That resulted in a charge of allegedly inducing her to participate in an act of child prostitution at a location in Sydney.
The charge sheet said a second alleged victim, aged 13, was paid $200 to participate in an act of child prostitution at a location in Newcastle.
Police said other alleged victims were also offered cash, but the amounts were not included in the documents.
Dr Sackelariou has operated from his Double Bay practice for 20 years but police did not claim that the alleged victims were his patients.
Prosecutor Ms Mulley said the crown was in a position to certify the NSW charges against the doctor, but there were delays with the alleged Commonwealth offences.
Defence lawyer Drew Hamilton on Wednesday told the court Dr Sackelariou had previously been refused bail.
Both the prosecution and defence asked for a one-week adjournment to allow for the Commonwealth charge certification process to be finalised.
The matter is due back in court on May 10.
