Jailed Australian broker to have brain surgery19:30, Wednesday,...

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    Jailed Australian broker to have brain surgery
    19:30, Wednesday, 18 June 2003

    SYDNEY, June 18 (Reuters) - A flamboyant Australian
    stockbroker sentenced to weekend detention for insider trading
    has multiple benign brain tumours and would undergo surgery next
    week, a psychiatrist treating him said on Wednesday.

    State-appointed psychiatrist Dr Robert Reznik said he had
    treated stockbroker Rene Rivkin after Rivkin collapsed and was
    rushed to hospital midway through his first weekend behind bars
    10 days ago.

    Reznik said he had diagnosed hypomania and that subsequent
    scans revealed multiple meningioma adjacent to Rivkin's brain.

    "All of the medical practitioners treating Mr Rivkin agree
    that he should anticipate making a full recovery, but the
    surgery involved is delicate and not without risk," Reznik said
    in a statement.

    Reznik said hypomania, a mild form of mania that can exhibit
    symptoms of excessive enthusiasm, can be part of a manic
    depressive disorder.

    Rivkin, famous for his worry beads, cigars and opulent
    lifestyle, was sentenced earlier this month to nine months of
    weekend detention and fined A$30,000 ($20,100) after he was
    found guilty of insider trading in shares of Australia's
    flagship carrier Qantas Airways Ltd .

    The Prozac-taking Rivkin has spoken openly in recent weeks
    about suffering from depression and has said he has contemplated
    suicide.

    Reznik said Rivkin had told him he expects to resume his
    periodic detention as soon as he receives medical clearance.
    Rivkin's lawyer told local media his client would resume his
    sentence in about three months.

    ($1 = A$1.49)
    ((Reporting by Paul Tait, editing by William Willitts;
    [email protected]; Reuters Messaging:
    [email protected]; +612 9373-1811))



 
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