Oz police to fly to US this week to get back 'Dr Death'
With US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice still to sign India-born surgeon Jayant Patel's extradition papers, two Australian officials will fly to America to bring the doctor back to Queensland.
By PTI |
MELBOURNE: With US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice still to sign India-born surgeon Jayant Patel's extradition papers, two Australian officials will fly to America to bring the doctor back to Queensland, a week before a US court's deadline on his extradition elapses.
Patel, dubbed as "Dr Death" by Aussie media, had agreed to be extradited to the country last month and will face 14 charges on his return, including manslaughter of three patients and grievous bodily harm to another two.
While it has not been finalised as to when and how the 58-year-old doctor will be handed over to Australian officials as Rice is yet to approve his extradition, the Queensland police hopes to have the surgeon in custody before the July 21 deadline set by a US court, an Australian website reported.
The police confirmed that US citizen Patel is unlikely to be shackled or handcuffed on his economy-class flight because he is not regarded as "escape risk", it said.
US District Court Judge Dennis Hubel in Oregon had last month rejected Patel's request for bail, but had said if Australian authorities did not secure his return within three weeks, it would give rise to "special circumstances" that could justify his release.
Patel, who has been lodged in a high security US prison in Portland since his arrest on March 11, was granted permission to visit his cardiologist after he gave up his legal battle against extradition.
Upon Patel's return to Queensland, police will take him straight to a Brisbane prison before his first appearance before the Magistrates Court.
Patel, dubbed as "Dr Death" by Aussie media, had agreed to be extradited to the country last month and will face 14 charges on his return, including manslaughter of three patients and grievous bodily harm to another two.
While it has not been finalised as to when and how the 58-year-old doctor will be handed over to Australian officials as Rice is yet to approve his extradition, the Queensland police hopes to have the surgeon in custody before the July 21 deadline set by a US court, an Australian website reported.
The police confirmed that US citizen Patel is unlikely to be shackled or handcuffed on his economy-class flight because he is not regarded as "escape risk", it said.
US District Court Judge Dennis Hubel in Oregon had last month rejected Patel's request for bail, but had said if Australian authorities did not secure his return within three weeks, it would give rise to "special circumstances" that could justify his release.
Patel, who has been lodged in a high security US prison in Portland since his arrest on March 11, was granted permission to visit his cardiologist after he gave up his legal battle against extradition.
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Upon Patel's return to Queensland, police will take him straight to a Brisbane prison before his first appearance before the Magistrates Court.
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