The partner of former Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been charged with multiple counts of rape along with sexual assault and deprivation of liberty on the Gold Coast.
Surgeon Reza Adib fronted Southport police station early this afternoon accompanied by a lawyer.
Mr Adib’s luxury Gold Coast apartment was raided by police on Thursday afternoon, just as Ms Palaszczuk was about to attend an event launching her memoir.
Several items were seized from the property after detectives executed a crime scene warrant following extensive investigations.
Police will allege Mr Adib sexually assaulted a woman aged in her 30s at the residence in Burleigh Heads on March 30.
The 65-year-old has been charged with three counts of rape, two counts of deprivation of liberty and one count of sexual assault.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of Ms Palaszczuk.
Mr Adib is due to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on May 14.
The obesity surgeon claims to have performed more than 20,000 operations, specialising in laparoscopic procedures.
He formed a relationship with Ms Palaszczuk in 2021.
The shock development comes as Ms Palaszczuk is engaged in a promotional tour for her book ‘The Politics of Being Me’.
She was at an event on the Gold Coast just after news of the investigation broke.
Questioned by a journalist in the audience about her partner’s arrest, the former Premier said she knew nothing about the turn of events and was unable to comment.
Ms Palaszczuk, who was due to begin speaking at 6.30pm, had slipped into the Robina venue 90 minutes early.
She has since cancelled several upcoming events.
Source: AAP.
