A West Australian GP is behind bars after allegedly sexually abusing four girls and attempting to try to bribe the complainants and witnesses into not helping the police investigation.
Douglas William McCarthy, 60, was first charged in September with 19 offences relating to the alleged sexual abuse of two 15-year-old girls.
He allegedly abused one of the girls at his home when she would stay over after babysitting for him.
Dr McCarthy was granted bail after his first court appearance, but child abuse squad detectives laid a further 38 charges against him overnight.
He appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday morning, which heard some of the new counts related to the original two complainants, while others were allegations of abusing two other children.
The new charges include sexual penetration of a child, indecently recording a child and encouraging a child to engage in sexual behaviour.
Police say the offences happened in Busselton, Donnybrook, Halls Head and Wannanup between June 2019 and September 2022.
Doctor McCarthy also faced three new charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice which the court was told related to allegations he offered to pay some complainants and witnesses in return for staying silent.
The police prosecutor described the offers as 'bribes' alleging Mr McCarthy told one child he would give them $300 per week for 15 weeks, while one of their friends had $800 transferred into their account.
Dr McCarthy's lawyer, Chris Townsend, applied for him to be released on bail, saying the Magistrate who approved his client's release when he first appeared in court was made aware that there may be further charges relating to the new allegations.
However, Magistrate Anthony Sullivan said he needed to see a copy of the transcript of that first appearance to confirm that was the case.
He remanded Dr McCarthy in custody until he appears again next week.
He was yet to enter pleas to any of the charges against him.
Police also said none of the allegations relate to his work as a general practitioner, in WA's South West.
