Patel costing Qld taxpayers $1.5k a fortnight
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The Queensland Government has revealed it is costing taxpayers more than $1,500 a fortnight to keep US doctor Jayant Patel in the state so he can face court.
Patel is facing more than a dozen charges, including manslaughter, over his time working at the Bundaberg Base Hospital.
He was granted bail last month when he returned to Brisbane and has been moved into a fully furnished property at an undisclosed location.
It is costing $535 a week.
The State Government says it is cheaper to pay rent for Patel while he is on bail, than for him to be in prison.
Police Minister Judy Spence says it will cost $40,000 a year to look after Patel during the trial.
"I know a lot of people were interested in how that would compare to his living circumstances if he was in prison," she said.
"At present it costs us about $63,000 a year to keep a person in prison. So doctor Patel is costing the state rather less than if he were in prison."
She says he is also receiving a fortnightly payment of $457.
"So he's getting the same kind of payments that anyone would who's on social security," she said.
Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson says it is not excessive.
"I think its reasonable, that's the term I would use, I think it is fair and it is reasonable," he said.
The police service will continue covering costs while Patel is on bail.
