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I'LL BE RIGHT BACK, SURE

February 28, 2007

I hear the weather on the Mediterranean is delightful this time of year. One might even be tempted to linger:

ROCKFORD — A Rockford psychiatrist accused of underreporting his income by several million dollars on tax documents will be allowed travel to Lebanon while the case against him proceeds.

The United States Justice Department has accused Imad Al-Basha of underreporting his income and the income of the dermatology business
his wife owns by more than $3 million since the year 2000.

Al-Basha appeared in court on Tuesday with his attorney Jim Zuba and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

This isn't typical. Most people have to surrender their passports if they are indicted. The U.S. Attorney objected here, but the Magistrate Judge Michael Mahoney decided the travel would be fine under strict conditions:

Mahoney decided that Al-Basha would be able to travel to Lebanon for one week every four weeks as long as he made sure the court knew how to reach him in that country.

The judge shows a lot more faith in human nature than I would.

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