Dr Jayant Patel, the Indian doctor charged with manslaughter in Australia, has lost his battle to be released from a US jail.
Dr Jayant Patel, the Indian doctor charged with manslaughter in Australia, has lost his battle to be released from a US jail.
He argued in the US District Court in Portland, Oregon last month that he should be released from a Portland prison while he fought extradition to Australia, which could take more than two years in the US court system.Judge Dennis J Hubel today refused his request, announcing Friday that Patel "should be detained for the duration of these extradition proceedings".
Patel, 57, has been held in Portland's high-security prison, the Multnomah County Detention Centre, since his arrest at his Portland home in March 11.
Judge Hubel said Patel, a US citizen, has "sufficient assets" to flee if released on bail to his country of birth, India.
"This court does not have adequate information before it to eliminate or moderate the possibility that respondent could regain his Indian citizenship and potentially an Indian passport with which to travel," Judge Hubel wrote in his order.
Australian authorities have charged Patel with 16 offences, including three counts of manslaughter, related to alleged botched operations during Patel's time as head of surgery at Queensland's Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005.
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