Urologist returned to court; Motion to revoke Bina’s bail heard — (Bangor Daily News)

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Bangor Daily News (ME)

January 12, 1999

Author: Debra Sund Of the NEWS Staff; BANGOR DAILY NEWS

Prosecutors brought a Presque Isle doctor who had been charged with arson and theft back to court Monday on a motion to revoke his bail.    Dr. Farid Bina, a urologist, was released after the Aroostook County Superior Court hearing on the condition that he seek long-term residential treatment for mental health conditions.While free on bail for the arson-related charges, Bina, 37, was charged last week with attempting to obtain prescription drugs, Prozac and Lithium, from a Presque Isle pharmacy by representing himself as a psychiatrist.  He was arrested and spent the weekend in the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton.

The charges stemming from last week’s alleged incident were criminal attempt and violation of conditions of release, both Class E crimes.

During Monday’s hearing, District Attorney Neale Adams recommended that Bina be released providing that the doctor provide proof within 30 days that he is admitted to a long-term residential treatment facility outside the state of Maine.

“Dr. Bina acknowledges that he needs treatment,” said John McElwee, a Caribou attorney representing Bina during the hearing. Bina’s attorney of record is Thomas Marjerison of Portland.   When asked by Justice Paul T. Pierson whether he understood the agreement that he seek treatment as a condition of bail, Bina replied, “Yes, sir.”

Dressed in fatigues, an emotional Bina approached Adams and thanked him after the hearing.   Bina is charged with setting a bulldozer on fire in August, which resulted in arson and aggravated criminal mischief charges. If convicted of the Class A charge of arson, Bina faces up to 40 years in prison.

In an unrelated case, Bina is scheduled to appear on Jan. 28 in District Court in Caribou regarding a motion to suppress statements he allegedly made after he was arrested for allegedly stealing Beanie Baby toys from two merchants at the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle in August.

Bina has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges in the two courts.   Bina has been suspended from practicing at The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle. Since his suspension, he has filed a lawsuit against the hospital, which is pending in the Aroostook County Superior Court in Caribou.