New York, July 16 (ANI): An Indian-origin pediatrician charged with sexually abusing young female patients, has had his bail increased to 10 million dollars bond or five million dollars cash by a New York judge.
Dr. Rakesh Punn, 53, who was arrested in July 2010 on preliminary charges of videotaping patients, pleaded not guilty to a 60-count indictment charging him with sexual abuse, assault, promoting a sexual performance by a child and unlawful surveillance.
When he was first arrested, Punn was ordered held on 3.5 million dollars bail, but prosecutors argued for higher bail, noting that Punn has a 24-year-old wife living in India and should be considered a flight risk.
The New York Post quoted a prosecutor, as saying that some of Punn's victims were as young as 11, and were allegedly drugged with sedatives and blindfolded during the assaults.
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice has said most of Punn's patients were Indian and that as a physician he held a revered position in that community, where parents would trust him to examine their children in private.
It was during those examinations that some of the alleged abuse took place, prosecutors said.
Punn's Defense attorney Nick Marino has argued against increasing bail, noting that prosecutors have frozen his assets, effectively forcing him to remain jailed until his trial.
He is also charged with making some of the girls sign a "contract" saying they were 18 years old and willing to perform numerous sexual acts.
Prosecutors also said Punn compiled a "how-to book" on molestation that he titled "Sex" and kept stored on his home computer. (ANI)
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