TOKYO - A former researcher at the Cleveland Clinic who was the subject of an FBI investigation into the theft of biological material from his lab may be returned to the United States to face charges.
Japan is expected to agree to a U.S. request to hand over Takashi Okamoto, according to Japanese news reports.
Okamoto, 43, a former researcher at the Cleveland Clinic, was charged in May 2001 with conspiracy, economic espionage and interstate shipment of stolen property related to Alzheimer's disease research.
U.S. authorities have said the materials were taken in 1999 from the research center, where Okamoto and a partner, Hiroaki Serizawa, had worked.
Okamoto returned to Japan nearly five years ago while the FBI was investigating.
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The Associated Press
