An American doctor who co-founded a chain of laser eye clinics in the U.S. and Canada, has been accused of trying to have two of his Canadian colleagues killed.
Dr. Michael Mockovak, 51, is accused of paying US$10,000 to an informant to have his Canadian business partner, Dr. Joseph King, killed. Authorities claim that the accused promised an additional $15,000 in payment once the deed was complete.
Prosecutors in Washington state have filed two charges of solicitation to commit first-degree murder against Mockovak.
They claim that Mockovak also tried to have Brad Klock killed.
Klock, a former hockey player from Port Alberni, B.C., had sued Clearly Lasik after he was dismissed from his job as company president in 2006.
Court documents suggest that Mockovak went to a Russian-born employee of Clearly Lasik in early 2008 and "jokingly asked if he had any contacts with the Russian mafia" who might resolve an ongoing wrongful termination lawsuit involving Klock. When Mockovak allegedly brought the matter up with the employee for a second time about a year later, the employee notified the FBI. The court documents allege that, in time, Mockovak also expressed a desire to have King killed.
None of the charges against Mockovak have been proven in court.
Mackovak is currently in custody and is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in King County Superior Court.
Mockovak and King co-founded Clearly Lasik Inc. several years ago, according to corporate records in the State of Nevada, where the company was first registered.
Mockovak and King are former in-laws, as they married a pair of sisters. But according to court documents, "Mackovak recently divorced his wife and a rift has developed between the two physicians."
As of Wednesday morning, Mockovak's name is not listed on the Clearly Lasik company website.
Clearly Lasik CEO Christian Monea released a statement Tuesday, promising that service to patients will continue.
"Our commitment to our patients and the community is our top priority. We have taken steps to ensure our patients will continue to receive the superior care and service we are known for," Monea said.
King, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, is a University of British Columbia graduate who later received specialty training at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He has performed over 50,000 laser vision correction procedures, according to the website.
The website indicates that the company offers services in Victoria, B.C., Vancouver, Edmonton, as well as in Seattle, and several other cities in Washington and Oregon.
With files from The Associated Press
