Pharmacist could face jail for falsifying prescription

Pharmacist Terrence Wong appeared in North Shore District Court.

An Auckland pharmacist is accused of illegally selling painkillers and sedatives "far in excess" of legal limits, and could face jail for falsifying a prescription.

Terrence Wong, 31, appeared in North Shore District Court this morning on four charges of selling medication without a prescription and two of committing a criminal nuisance by the "excessive supply" of painkillers, allegedly endangering the health of two people.

But the most serious charge was one of willfully attempting to pervert the course of justice by fabricating a prescription, which carries a jail term of up to seven years.

According to court documents, from September last year Wong - who runs Birkenhead Avenue Pharmacy - was allegedly selling zopiclone to customers without authorised prescriptions.

The drug is a sedative often prescribed to insomniacs and causes a tranquilization of the central nervous system.

"Some individuals do become dependent on zopiclone, and many of these have not experienced substance dependence or abuse previously," the government's Medsafe website said.

Acting Detective Sergeant Kelly Farrant said the allegations against Wong were that he "supplied amounts far in excess of limits stipulated by the law".

She said she could not go into detail about the case because it was before the court but urged anyone with more information to come forward

It is alleged the pharmacist, also known as Park Ung Wong, was unlawfully providing paracetamol and codeine medication as well.

Paracetamol helps to block the nerves that transmit pain impulses to the brain, while codeine helps to reduce the brain's awareness of those impulses.

Among the charges are also allegations Wong broke the law by not "preventing the unnecessary or excessive supply of Nurofen Plus" to two people.

Charge sheets name a young netball umpire and a university administrator as the recipients of the anti-inflammatory painkillers.

Wong was not at his Bayview home today when NZME News Service visited, nor was he at the pharmacy.

Though there was a sign in the window saying "open", the doors were locked and there was a handwritten note saying the business would be operating again tomorrow.

Deputy registrar of the Pharmacy Council Owain George said he could not comment on individual cases but said they were usually informed by the police when allegations of criminal offending against pharmacists arose.

If that information raised questions about the person's ability to work or public safety, Mr George said interim conditions could be placed on them or a suspension.

Ordinarily the defendant would be given 10 working days to respond before the council made its decision, but he said it could be expedited depending on the severity of the accusations.

According to the Pharmacy Council's database Wong's practising certificate was valid until March next year and as yet there were no conditions placed on his practice.

Police confirmed they were working with a number of government agencies including the council and the Ministry of Health.

Anyone with information about the Birkenhead Avenue Pharmacy is urged to contact North Shore CIB on 09 477 5261 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Wong was remanded on bail without plea until next month.