As reported in the Geelong Advertiser of Victoria, Australia
A GEELONG doctor who traded drugs for sex was an arrogant sexual predator who had ruined lives, a court heard yesterday.
Mario Marchesani OK ran a La Trobe Tce surgery for 46 years before being found guilty on 10 counts of drug trafficking last month.
The father of four, who was given the equivalent of an Italian knighthood for his service to Geelong's Italian community, had spent years exchanging shots of pethedine and morphine for sexual favours from two former drug-addicted prostitutes.
Yesterday, during a pre-sentence plea hearing at the County Court in Melbourne, Judge Ian Robertson read from one of the women's victim impact statements.
``Dr Marchesani is a sexual predator who used his position and power to destroy lives with no remorse,'' it said.
``It says it all, doesn't it?'' Judge Robertson added.
Crown prosecutor Bob Johnson said Marchesani had targeted drug addicts, who he injected at his practice, in what was a ``shocking abuse of his position''.
He requested an immediate custodial sentence for the offences, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 years' jail.
But David Hallowes, for Marchesani, said that if sent to jail there was a real possibility the 79-year-old would die there.
He said Marchesani, formerly of Pakington St, Newtown, suffered from stomach ulcers, hypertension, high cholesterol, back problems, and was in remission for cancer diagnosed in 1998.
Mr Hallowes said Marchesani had already suffered enormously for his crimes.
He said his second wife had left him, one of his son's, a lawyer, had severed ties with him, and that it was not an exaggeration to say he had experienced total public and professional humiliation.
One doctor refused to even provide him with a medical report for court and the Medical Practitioners Board suspended his registration on March 2.
The court heard that Marchesani had been in protection because of his age and problems coping with incarceration since being remanded in custody after being found guilty on February 9.
But Judge Robertson said he had grave concerns about a psychiatric report tendered by Mr Hallowes that stated Marchesani's physical and mental health had rapidly declined since being in custody.
Judge Robertson said he could not see a great physical difference in Marchesani since seeing him at his trial.
He adjourned sentencing Marchesani until independent pre-sentence reports from a physician and psychiatrist were completed.
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