Con Kyriacou has been charged with 34 offences including the rape and indecent assault of patients, including a girl, 16

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A former Melbourne doctor has labelled rape and indecent assault charges against him “stupid” as he faced court for the first time.

Con Kyriacou, 75, is charged with 34 offences including the rape and indecent assault of patients, including a 16-year-old girl.

The offences are alleged to have happened at the Balwyn North man’s Hawthorn clinic between 1981 and 2003.

He said nothing as he briefly faced Melbourne magistrates court on Monday. But outside court he told reporters that the allegations by 15 women were “stupid”.

Prosecutors sought more time to compile the evidence against Kyriacou, noting there was the potential for further victims to come forward.

The brief against him currently includes 29 counts of indecent assault and two charges of rape.

He is also facing two charges of sexual penetration of a child who was 16, and one charge of indecently assaulting the same girl.

Prosecutors were given until mid-March to serve the full brief of evidence on Kyriacou.

A spokeswoman from the Medical Board of Australia and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency said they were taking seriously the allegations raised by patients about the conduct of Kyriacou.

Allegations were first raised with the agency in February 2016 and August 2016.

“We immediately started our investigation of both matters and liaised with police as part of our investigation,” the spokeswoman said. “We have no powers to undertake criminal investigations, which is a matter for the police.”

The organisations have brought Kyriacou before the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal and will allege he engaged in professional misconduct.

Kyriacou surrendered his medical registration in August 2017 and can no longer practise as a doctor. Despite this, the agency is proceeding with action in the tribunal.

“We have recently received new complaints from former patients of Dr Kyriacou, which we are now investigating,” a spokeswoman said. “We have referred all matters involving allegations of criminal conduct to Victoria police.”

Kyriacou is due to return to court on 17 May for a committal mention.