Jayant Patel

Published Wednesday, 29 August, 2007 at 05:37 PM

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine

In her statement today, the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions Leanne Clare SC said prosecutors were pursuing 16 charges against Jayant Patel.

These charges include three charges of manslaughter and three charges of grievous bodily harm.

In Queensland, manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The remaining charges are negligent acts causing harm (2 charges) and fraud (8).

The Office of the Queensland DPP is working co-operatively with Commonwealth authorities to finalise the application to extradite Jayant Patel from the United States.

The prosecution of Jayant Patel is being pursued according to the rule of law by independent prosecutors.

I would also urge people to exercise restraint in publicly commenting on this matter.

29 August 2007