A banned doctor and convicted fraudster has been accused of infecting patients with hepatitis B at a beauty clinic in Sydney’s CBD after the state’s healthcare watchdog raided the Macquarie Street practice in its continued crackdown on cosmetic cowboys.

The Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) has urged anyone treated by a Dr Baz Demeza (real name Tommy Jodlovich) at the Smooth as Silk Laser and Cosmetic Clinic on Macquarie Street to come forward with any concerns about their treatment.

Commissioner John Tansey said the watchdog had received new information from a patient who may have contracted hepatitis B as a result of loose infection control practices at the clinic.

“We are taking these allegations extremely seriously and [have] swiftly acted to protect the public in this case,” Tansey said. “An interim prohibition order has been imposed on Mr Jodlovich preventing him from providing any health services while the investigation continues.”

Hepatitis B, an infection of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis, cancer and death, is spread through contact with infected body fluids such as semen, saliva and blood. This can happen when needles or syringes are shared.

The commission alleges Jodlovich gave botulinum toxin (botox) and hyaluronic acid injections under the name Dr Baz Demeza despite losing his medical registration in 2021. Both procedures can be prescribed only by an authorised doctor and performed by a registered practitioner.

The commission said during the raid it also found evidence that indicated Jodlovich was posing as a doctor during online telehealth medical consultations and using expired medical products in these procedures.

The watchdog seized a large quantity of Schedule 4 (prescription-only) restricted medicines which only registered medical practitioners can legally hold, Tansey said.