Ex-doctor arrested over alleged mutilations, assaults
Police investigated more than 100 allegations
Charged with alleged offences against 10 women
A FORMER New South Wales doctor charged over alleged sexual assaults and genital mutilations of surgical patients has had an application for bail denied.
Graeme Reeves, 58, who was banned from practising obstetrics by the Medical Board in 1997, has been charged with 17 offences against 10 women, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec said.
Police said he had charged with nine counts of aggravated sexual assault, six counts of indecent assault, one count of female genital mutilation and one count of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Mr Reeves was arrested in the Sydney suburb of Baulkham Hills this morning after extensive investigations into more than 113 allegations of patient misconduct between 2001 and 2003 at Baulkham Hills and at Bega on the state`s south coast.
The Daily Telegraph was on the scene when Mr Reeves was brought in to a local police station at about 6.45am (AEST) in the back of an unmarked police car.
"It`s been a lengthy investigation due to the fact there have been numerous people we`ve had to speak to including in excess of 100 (alleged) victims and witnesses, medical professionals, plus also examine numerous medical records," Supt Kerlatec said earlier on Macquarie Radio.
"We also had to engage our own medical expert to give us advice on the difference between malpractice and what we consider to be criminal action.
"This is the first investigation of this size and nature conducted by the NSW police force and officers are treating the matter very seriously," the Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.
Police from Strike Force Tarella raided a storage unit allegedly belonging to Mr Reeves last week at Gladesville in Sydney`s northwest, where officers allegedly located a raft of medical documents.
Mr Reeves is expected to face court today, but police said the probe was continuing. "Today`s arrest marks the first phase in this lengthy and complex investigation and inquiries are ongoing," Supt Kerlatec said.
He praised the courage of the former patients of Mr Reeves who had come forward with their allegations.
"We were extremely encouraged throughout this whole matter by the strength displayed by these women," he said. "It`s been a very traumatic experience for them and it`s taken a great deal of courage for them to come forward."
Supt Kerlatec said more charges could follow. "The investigation will continue. There are further (alleged) victims we will be speaking to," he said.
Mr Reeves` appointment by the Southern Area Health Service in 2002 has been examined by Peter Garling SC as part of his wider investigation into the NSW public hospital system.
He found that when Mr Reeves applied in 2002 there were "deficiencies" in the system that meant authorities failed to detect he had been banned from practising obstetrics.
"I find that Dr Reeves` intentional and calculated dishonesty was the main reason he was recruited to a position he was legally unable to fill," Mr Garling wrote in his report.
