By admin 
YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — A Yuma doctor charged with four felonies in what prosecutors describe as a fraud scheme with alleged ties to Mexican drug cartels will remain in custody on a $50 million bond after a judge denied a request to lower it at a court hearing Tuesday.
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Prosecutors told the court they consider Dr. Irfan Fazil, who practices at Bio Family Clinic, a potential flight risk, citing what they described as overseas accounts. They also said Fazil’s wife owns an operating clinic in Dubai and noted that Fazil has a brother who was deported to Pakistan.
As part of the investigation, prosecutors said they have seized Fazil’s assets, including planes and cars, and frozen his bank accounts.
Fazil’s attorney, Jeremy Claridge, argued the bond is excessive and said the asset seizure has left his client unable to pay, effectively preventing him from posting bail.
“It was so high that after the state had gone through and seized all my client’s assets, he, he can’t pay that, so effectively he is denied his ability to make bail,” Claridge said.
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Claridge also said Fazil has practiced medicine in Arizona for 15 years.
Prosecutors also said investigators seized several credit cards under different names, including the names of the doctor’s employees.
Fazil is scheduled to return to court next week.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office said the case is part of an ongoing investigation and it could not provide additional information at this time.
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