Aids: Acupuncturist Accused of Deliberately Infecting Patients with HIV in Switzerland

A self-styled acupuncturist intentionally infected 16 people with HIV by pricking his victims with needles containing Aids-infected blood, Swiss authorities have said.

The suspect, whose identity has not been revealed, has been indicted by a five-judge panel in Bern-Mitelland regional court on charges of intentionally spreading disease and causing serious bodily harm.

The offences carry a maximum sentence of five and 10 years respectively.

The man, who ran a music school, picked most of his victims from among his pupils. He allegedly operated an acupuncture clinic without a licence from 2001-05, where he infected them, the regional prosecutor said.

In some cases he gave his victims spiked drinks, rendering them unconscious.

The suspect was not HIV-positive, said prosecutors.

Police began investigating after several cases of HIV infection in connection with acupuncture treatments were reported by Inselspital, a hospital in Bern.

The defendant has denied the allegations.

A date for the trial has not been set.