Dominican doctor in alleged US$105M Medicare fraud still behind bars: EFE

Miami,- Dominican-born doctor Salomon Melgen, closelylinked to influential US senator Robert (Bob) Menendez and who was arrested forallegedly defrauding Medicare out of US$105 million, remains behind bars,according to a judicial source quoted by EFE.

At a hearing in West Palm Beach judge James Hopkinsdeclined to rule on Melgen’s request for bail. Melgen was expected to bereleased on bail Monday, after a district judge on Friday ruled that he wasn’ta flight risk.

Hopkins requested more banking information and detailsabout the defendant’s properties and assets abroad, especially in DominicanRepublic.

The prosecution had asked that bond be set at US$20 millionfor the ophthalmologist.

Palmbeachpost.com reports that Melgen will likely remain in custodyuntil the trial.