MALAYSIAN BRAIN SUREGON TELLS SYDNEY COURT OF SEX AND DRUG ADDICTION

Malaysian Brain Suregon Tells Sydney Court Of Sex And Drug Addiction

MELBOURNE, July 2 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian neurosurgeon told a Sydney court this week that he realised his drug and sex addiction was "spiralling out of control" when a 22-year-old prostitute, Victoria McIntyre, died from a cocaine overdose in his Sydney apartment.

"I made a big mistake and the whole thing snowballed completely out of control," Suresh Nair, 43, is quoted by "The Australian" newspaper as telling Downing Centre District Court, Sydney, on Thursday.

"There was a part of me that recognised things were out of control...but there was another part of me that chose to ignore that rational part of my mind."

A second prostitute, Suellen Domingues-Zaupa, 23, died in the same circumstances nine months later, in November 2009.

Nair told his sentencing judge, Robert Toner, "If I had handled things differently and been honest with myself, I feel very strongly that nothing would have happened with Suellen."

In its report, The Sydney Daily Telegraph said former colleague and prominent neurosurgeon Charlie Teo defended Nair's previous good character.

Dr Teo told the court he held Nair in extremely high regard despite the charges against him.

"I have a public profile...but I felt very strongly that Suresh was a good person and people needed to know that," Dr Teo said.

Having visited him twice in jail, Dr Teo said Nair was "very remorseful."

Dr Teo described Nair as "awkward socially" but said his patient care and skills as a brain surgeon were exemplary.

Nair has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Domingues-Zaupa, and one count of drug supply relating to the death of McIntyre.

Nair has been suspended by the New South Wales Medical Board and is awaiting deregistration after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Domingues-Zaupa and two drug-supply charges, one related to McIntyre's death.

Since being remanded in jail 18 months ago, Nair has been the victim of a vicious assault, which resulted in the loss of some vision.

He also faces deportation to Malaysia because he does not hold Australian citizenship despite migrating here in 1980 at the age of 11.

Nair's barrister, Peter Hamill SC, said his client's "dreadful, debilitating addiction" had resulted in a "tragic waste; the waste of the lives of the victims...there's also the awful waste of Nair's incredible talents, 20 years of work down the drain."

But Judge Toner disagreed, saying Nair was not an addict, but a "binge cocaine user" and there was "one dead body too many."

Nair will be sentenced on Aug 12.