Allegations of genetic manipulation were bolstered by chemical engineer Paulo Henrique Ferraz Bastos, who worked at Abdelmassih's clinic for two years.

Bastos told Globo in an interview Sunday night that Abdelmassih carried out ethically questionable research.

'Scandalous research was conducted at Dr. Roger's clinic,' Bastos said, adding that he worked at a veterinary company hired to assist with genetic research on humans at Abdelmassih's clinic.

'I was uncomfortable with the fact that part of my company's research had been transferred to a clinic for humans. It dealt with animal cell cultures being worked on at a human clinic,' Bastos said.

The case against the doctor includes allegations that he used controversial methods, such as transferring cytoplasm, a practice banned in the US in 2001.

This technique involves removing the cytoplasm from a young woman's fertile egg and injecting it into the egg of a patient who is experiencing difficulties getting pregnant to improve the chances of fertilization.

Abdelmassih was arrested Aug 17 and remains behind bars.