M’sian-born surgeon denied bail in Sydney

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MELBOURNE: A Malaysian-born neurosurgeon awaiting trial on drugs charges has been refused bail in a Sydney court yesterday.Suresh Surendranath Nair, 41, had been in police custody since he was caught on Friday night for allegedly breaching bail conditions which required him not to engage in the services of female escorts or consume illegal drugs, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported. Nair was charged last year with supplying a prohibited drug at his apartment in Sydney’s east, on Nov 19.

The charge related to the death of 22-year-old Suellen Domingues Zaupa, whose body was found at the apartment three days later.

The neurosurgeon had been granted bail at a previous court appearance on condition that he not consume illegal drugs or engage the services of any prostitute.

He allegedly breached those conditions on Friday night, when police said he took cocaine with two social escorts at his rented apartment in Bondi Beach.

In applying for bail, Nair’s solicitor, Mitchell Cavanagh, said his client had admitted he had a problem. He said the incident occurred while Nair’s psychiatrist was on holiday.

Cavanagh told the court Nair would not repeat the offence if he was allowed to live with his mother, and would reside in a psychiatric hospital if required.

“He realises now he cannot trust himself to be on his own,” Cavanagh said.

In refusing the application, Magistrate Jane Culver said the breach occurred just a short time after bail had been granted.

“This is a matter where the protection of the community looms large,” she said. “This court can have little confidence in the defendant’s willingness to comply (with the bail conditions).”

Nair will next appear on the breaching bail charge in the Central Local Court on March 1.

However, he is due to appear on the drugs charge on Feb 9 at the Downing Centre Local Court.

Nair was suspended by the Sydney West Area Health Service after his first arrest in 2009. — Bernama

At that time, the New South Wales Health Department said the doctor had been the subject of reviews by the

medical board in 2004 and 2008, resulting in suspensions and conditions being placed on his registration. — Bernama