Charges of indecent and unlawful assault against John George Mateljan, a 74-year-old obstetrician from Geraldton, Western Australia, were discontinued on Monday, August 10, 2026. Detectives had charged Mateljan in August 2025, alleging he indecently assaulted three women during medical consultations or while working alongside them in hospital settings.
Mateljan had "vehemently" denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors informed the Geraldton Magistrate's Court a week before the trial was set to begin that there were no reasonable prospects for conviction, leading to the discontinuation of the charges.
Magistrate Melita Medcalf awarded Mateljan $45,000 in court costs and removed his bail conditions before declaring the matter concluded. However, Mateljan remains subject to restrictions imposed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA). These include a ban on direct contact with patients identifying as women, girls, or non-binary individuals except for telehealth consultations, and a limitation to practising only at Geraldton's Victoria District Medical Centre. These restrictions will stay in place unless lifted by the APHRA board or successfully appealed by Mateljan.
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