A 22-year-old charged with using a stolen prescription script to ask for a strong painkiller often used by those with cancer has been denied bail after fears he was not working alone.
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Mohammad Hakimzadeh, from South Granville in Sydney, allegedly presented a fraudulent prescription at the Priceline Pharmacy in Westfield Woden on Friday afternoon but was refused the opioid by the pharmacist.
The pharmacist called police about 12.45pm to report the incident, telling them he noticed the document's missing date of birth and did not believe the young "able bodied" defendant needed the powerful pain killer "normally for people with chronic severe pain including people who have cancer," court documents said.
The Sydney medical centre listed on the prescription was called and advised the prescription was allegedly part of a stolen prescription pad. A prosecutor told the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday there were 100 scripts in the pad.
Police arrested the defendant at a hairdresser in Westfield Woden about 2pm on Friday. He told police he had been refused medication and in an interview said a friend had asked him to collect the prescription for him in exchange for $200, court documents said.
The defendant was charged with five offences, including possession of stolen property, possession and use of a false document and making a false or misleading statement to obtain a controlled drug.
Duty defence lawyer Hugh Jorgensen said his client accepted that it was unlawful for him to receive the prescription drugs for someone else, but had only the single prescription to fill and was unaware of any other unfilled scripts or stolen pad. No pleas were entered.
A prosecutor opposed bail, saying the number of scripts on the allegedly stolen pad raised fears it would be used to obtain prescription drugs and the defendant may contact colleagues and interfere with evidence. Fears were also raised the defendant may not appear in court if bailed, given his lack of ties to the ACT, which Mr Jorgensen said he was visiting to see if it was a suitable place to live.
Magistrate Peter Morrison, refusing bail, said evidence indicated the defendant had a drug habit and there was a likelihood of further offending or not appearing at court if released.
The matter returns to court on Thursday, July 14.
