Brych fais in passport bid

Press, 14 May 1981, Page 2

Brych fais in passport bid

NZPA correspondent Washington

Another bid by Milan Brych for the return of his passport so that he can go to New Zealand has been turned down by a Los Angeles judge. But Judge David Aisenson said that he would hear further motions on the application by Brych’s attorney, Mr Godfrey Isaac, tomorrow. The judge made an interim ruling against giving Brych back his ( passport at Tuesday’s hearing. Mr Isaac said that he would seek a closed court session tomorrow to give details of the people Brych wants to see in New Zealand.

Mr Isaac said that he and Brych wanted to go to New Zealand and Australia next month to gather evidence for Brych’s defence on charges of treating patients in California with an unauthorised cancer cure.

"'■ Brych is awaiting trial on a total of 13 charges, including three of grand theft by fraud in respect of payments he received for his alleged cancer cure. The Deputy District Attorney, Ms Tamia Holt, opposed the passport application, saying that if it was granted she would seek an increase in Brych’s bail from $224,000 to $560,000. “He’s a high risk of jumping bail,” she told the judge. “We don’t think he would return if he left the country.” She questioned the importance of Brych’s visit to New Zealand, saying that he was no longer qualified as a medical practitioner there. She also said that he was no longer living in the Los Angeles area, but had bought a property in Tucson, Arizona. Ms Holt also said that she would oppose the application for a closed hearing.