An Indian-origin doctor facing manslaughter charges in Australia after he allegedly drugged his two female escorts, leading to their deaths, was denied bail on Tuesday.
Suresh Surendranath Nair, a Sydney-based Indian-origin neurosurgeon had sought bail, with the Supreme Court hearing he had been assaulted in custody and was unable to access appropriate counselling services for his cocaine addiction, media reports said in Australia on Tuesday.
Nair, who will face court again next month, has been charged of murdering 22-year old Brazilian student Suellen Domingues Zaupa in November.
She died in his Elizabeth Bay apartment after he allegedly supplied her with cocaine. Apart from this, Nair has also been charged with the manslaughter of a 23-year old escort Victoria McIntyre who also died of cocaine toxicity in February last year which was allegedly supplied by Nair after engaging her for sexual services at his apartment.
He had previously been in denial about his addiction, but his psychiatrist reported that he had recently developed more insight and accepted "that his addiction has had a detrimental and catastrophic impact on every aspect of his life".
While questioning the strength of the Crown case on the murder charge, Supreme Court Justice Megan Latham refused to release Nair.
She said the abuse of bail could not be regarded lightly and, referring to the incident in January, said Nair "himself acknowledged that he was prepared to risk conditional liberty if he could get away with it".
The judge said the strength of Nair's cocaine addiction led her to believe he was likely to commit serious offences if given bail.
Nair, who formerly worked at Nepean Hospital, had his medical registration suspended in November. He was initially charged with supplying cocaine and was given bail.
However, he was taken into custody in January when he was allegedly arrested with two naked escorts and cocaine laid out on a dinner plate, in breach of bail conditions that he not use escorts, prostitutes or illicit drugs.
He was subsequently charged over the deaths of Domingues Zaupa and McIntyre. She remanded him in custody. He will face court again next month.
