In a startling development, Annastacia Palaszczuk’s long-term partner, a respected surgeon, has been charged with three counts of rape. This follows a police raid on his upscale apartment less than a day prior.
Reza Adib, aged 65, was seen leaving the Southport police station around 2 p.m. on Friday, accompanied by his legal representative. Adib maintained silence, declining to address the gathered media.
The well-known Gold Coast surgeon faces serious allegations, including three counts of rape, one count of sexual assault, and two counts of deprivation of liberty, all stemming from an incident reported on March 30.
Adib’s legal team at Robertson O’Gorman expressed his surprise and concern over the accusations, emphasizing his resolve to address the situation earnestly.
“Dr. Adib is presumed innocent, as is the right of any accused individual, and he plans to defend against these charges vigorously,” stated his lawyer, Dan Rogers, in a public release.
The statement further highlighted Dr. Adib’s primary focus on his family and patients’ well-being, assuring that he is committed to their care and support during this challenging period.
The statement said Dr Adib had asked the media to respect the privacy of his family and his patients and he would not make any comment while the case was before the courts.
Dr Adib was given watchhouse bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 14.
Reza Adib, 59, appeared tense as he left Southport police station flanked by his lawyer just after 2pm on Friday and made no comment to the waiting press
He made no comment to a waiting press pack as he left the police station
Dr Adib is the long-time partner of former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
‘It will be alleged the man sexually assaulted a woman in her 30s at a Goodwin Terrace residence on 30 March,’ police said.
Palaszczuk, Queensland’s former premier, has not bee accused of any wrongdoing and said she was ‘not aware’ of the claims on Thursday night.
Her comments came just hours after Dr Adib’s luxury unit at Burleigh was searched by half a dozen police officers who were seen later seen leaving with evidence bags.
An officer was seen searching inside a barbecue on the balcony.
Palaszczuk, who is currently promoting her new memoir, The Politics of Being Me, was asked about the investigation during an appearance on Thursday night.
‘I’m not aware of any of that, so I can’t comment,’ she responded when asked by a member of the crowd at Robina Library.
The former premier wrote in her memoir that she felt ‘blessed’ to share her life with Dr Adib, his two children and dog, Winton.
‘We’re very happy,’ she told the Daily Mail on Wednesday.
The Gold Coast surgeon (pictured on Friday) has been charged with three counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and two counts of deprivation of liberty
Her comments came just hours after Dr Adib’s Norfolk building at Burleigh was searched by half a dozen police officers later seen leaving with evidence bags
The couple have been dating for more than two years.
Palaszczuk, 52, went public with the relationship on September 3, 2021, ending months of speculation that the pair were dating.
Dr Adib, a general and laparoscopic surgeon, began his career at the Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1994 and established the Brisbane Obesity Clinic in 2004.
Brisbane Obesity Clinic’s website boasts Dr Adib has performed more than 20,000 operations and more than 5,000 weight-loss procedures.
The surgeon also owns a three-level, five-bedroom, five-bathroom riverfront mansion in Indooroopilly that he bought for $6.25million more than a decade ago.
The landmark house is ‘inspired by the grandeur of traditional 14th Century Italian Villas’ and features ‘the finest materials from around the world.’
The luxury property comes with an infinity pool and overlooks Brisbane River.
