A Toronto doctor who runs an unorthodox cancer-treatment practice and was convicted six years ago of defrauding a patient was arraigned on drug-trafficking charges in Ontario Court yesterday.

Ravi Devgan, whose "holistic oncology" practice is widely touted on the Internet, has run clinics in California and Mexico and continues to practise from a home office in central Toronto.

He faces four charges in relation to an alleged conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone hydrochloride, an opium-based narcotic sold in pill form by prescription.

Dr. Devgan, 55, elected trial by jury yesterday, and a preliminary hearing began in front of Judge Monte Harris.

As is customary in preliminary hearings, where the prosecution's evidence is assessed by the Ontario Court before a jury trial is held in Ontario Superior Court, a ban was imposed on publication of evidence presented.

Accused along with Dr. Devgan is Sandy Hutchens, a 43-year-old paralegal from Thornhill, just north of Toronto. The two are charged with conspiracy to traffic and trafficking, conspiracy to possess and possession of oxycodone.