'Psychologist' refused bail

IT STARTED with a fake PhD in psychology allegedly bought over the internet for just under $250.


More than a decade later, a Milsons Point man had built a career posing as a psychologist, opening three trauma clinics, releasing a self-help book, treating patients and working for the State Government, according to documents filed at Central Local Court.

The bail application for David Ali Davut Sarikaya - also known as Dr David Kaye - was refused by magistrate Allan Moore at court last Friday as the extent of Sarikaya’s numerous alleged frauds were revealed.

The 46-year-old was born in Turkey and migrated to Australia in 1980.

Court documents revealed he holds a bachelor of arts and a “partially completed” graduate diploma in counselling from RMIT University in Melbourne.

His enrolment in the counselling course was cancelled due to him “providing false results to obtain entry to the course”, according to police.

Sarikaya received a suspended sentence and did community service after being convicted of fraud offences in Victoria in 1994, and was subsequently declared bankrupt.

Shortly after, he moved to Sydney.

Since November 1997, he has “actively (been) building a profile as Dr David Kaye”, police said.

“Inquiries indicate that his PhD was purchased via the internet from an organisation in Minnesota USA for $244.95 and is by no means an official document enabling use of titles such as Dr,” court documents stated.

Over the years, Sarikaya opened and ran trauma clinics in Sydney, Parramatta and Melbourne.

On July 15, 2002, a self-help book by “Dr David Kaye” titled Crossroads - Your Journey Within was released.

In 2007, Sarikaya was appointed for the Official Visitors Program under then-Health Minister John Hatzistergos, according to court documents.

Sarikaya was interviewed for the position and held it for three years, which enabled him to make regular visits to mental patients in psychiatric facilities.

On September 25 last year, as he was about to board a plane to New Zealand at Sydney’s International Airport, he was charged with 27 fraud offences.

He was charged with 10 counts of making a false instrument; 10 counts of using a false instrument; six counts of obtaining money by deception and one count of false use of a title under the Medical Practices Act.

Sarikaya was also charged with making a false complaint after reporting a Harbourside police officer to the Police Integrity Commission, saying the officer had concealed matters involving a search warrant.

Court documents revealed Sarikaya had “sought out and engaged the services of a private investigator to investigate the officer”.

Sarikaya was put under 11 bail conditions, including an order for him to attend the Sydney Clinic in Bronte.

He was also told to stop using the title “doctor”, or use any documentation in the name of Dr David Kaye or David Kaye.

However, while at the Sydney Clinic for treatment by a psychiatrist, Sarikaya “befriended a young female also under care”, police said.

He allegedly introduced himself to her as “Dr David Kaye”, gave her a copy of his book, offered her treatment and invited her to his property in Eden for a weekend.

The young woman’s mother reported the incidents to Maroubra police after looking up Dr David Kaye on the internet, thus reading about his “alleged fraudulent activity”, according to police.

Sarikaya was arrested again on February 4 this year.

“The accused was informed that he would be charged ... the accused made no response other than (to) smile at police”, documents stated.

The case returns to Central Local Court on March 30.