Pharmacist reprimanded and disqualified for two months after importing ice pipes

15 Jan 2020

A tribunal has found a Western Australian pharmacist engaged in professional misconduct after she was convicted of unlawfully importing ice-pipes into Australia.

On 15 September 2016, Cathy Nguyen plead guilty to and was convicted of two offences under the Customs Act 1901 (Cth). Ms Nguyen was convicted of importing 100 ice pipes, a prohibited import, into Australia without permission and of aiding or abetting the importation of a further 50 ice pipes. The Magistrates Court of Western Australia fined Ms Nguyen $7,500 for the first offence and $2,500 for the second offence.

The Pharmacy Board of Australia (the Board) formed a reasonable belief that Ms Nguyen’s conduct constituted professional misconduct and referred the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal (the tribunal).

The Board and Ms Nguyen agreed the terms on which the matter could be settled. Ms Nguyen admitted that her conduct constituted professional misconduct and was reprimanded and disqualified from re-applying for registration as a pharmacist for two months. Ms Nguyen was also ordered to pay a contribution of $500 towards the Board’s costs of the tribunal proceedings.

Among other things, the Tribunal orders record that Ms Nguyen had no prior disciplinary or criminal history, had demonstrated remorse for her conduct and that the conduct occurred outside the practise of her profession as a pharmacist.

The full decision is published on the eCourts website.