One of the nation’s leading surgeons has had his name and face plastered across the front of a Kings Cross adult store in what he says is a ‘hate campaign’.
A large picture of Dr Munjed Al Muderis wearing a surgical cap and gown has been hung above the Darlinghurst Road sex store formerly known as The Pleasure Den.
The large sign, which first appeared in the past week, includes the words: ‘Dr. Al Muderis’ ADULT STORE. Restricted premises 18+’.
Dr Al Muderis, famous for pioneering prosthetic limbs for amputees and his amazing story of survival as a refugee fleeing Iraq, told Daily Mail Australia he thinks the sign is ‘hilarious’ but will still be pursuing legal action.
Munjed Al Muderis, one of the nation’s leading surgeons, has had his name and face blazoned across the front of a Kings Cross adult store (pictured) in what he says is a ‘hate campaign’
Dr Al Muderis (pictured), famous for pioneering prosthetic limbs for amputees, told Daily Mail Australia he thinks the sign is ‘hilarious’ but confirmed he will still be pursuing legal action
‘I don’t know where the law stands here but obviously it is slanderous, so we’re taking proceedings with the court,’ Dr Al Muderis said.
‘The problem is we can not just go and ask them to take it down, we have to put in an application to the court and it takes time… time I’d much rather be spent on treating patients.’
NSW police raided The Pleasure Den and other adult stores in Kings Cross earlier this month, seizing thousands of DVDs and boxes of sex paraphernalia.
Weeks later the 24 hour store had shut its doors, its normal signage had been taken down and the billboard featuring Dr Al Muderis had been erected.
The adult store has links to Gerardo Mazzella, a disgruntled former patient who was found by the Supreme Court to have defamed Dr Al Muderis in June this year and forced to pay $480,000.
In defending the defamation allegations at the time, Mr Mazzella told the court the surgeon had left him feeling ‘numbness in both his penis and scrotum’ following a procedure in 2010.
But despite Mr Mazzella’s claims that he was unable to be sexually active, the court was told tests showed no damage to any nerves.
In awarding the payout to Dr Al Muderis, Justice Stephen Rothman said he found ‘no evidence of any negligence or wrongdoing’.
The large sign appeared in the past week including the words: ‘Dr. Al Muderis’ ADULT STORE. Restricted premises 18+’
The adult store has links to Gerardo Mazzella (pictured), a disgruntled former patient who was found by the Supreme Court to have defamed Dr Al Muderis in June this year and forced to pay $480,000
When asked if he put the sign above the store, Mr Mazzella said he had ‘no comment’ to make.
While admitting he saw the lighter side of having his face above Darlinghurst Rd, Dr Al Muderis said the sign had left him ‘frightened’.
The surgeon claimed at one stage he had been sent pictures of a person holding a gun, in what he believed to be a threat.
Dr Al Muderis has reported the threats and the sign to police.
‘It will stop at some stage. I’m comfortable with what I do and with my work ethics,’ he said.
Weeks after police raids in early November the 24 hour adult store shut its doors (pictured), took down most of its normal signage and the billboard featuring Dr Al Muderis appeared