The country's top health watchdog pulled no punches in his verdict on Roman Hasil's medical mishaps.

Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson's February report revealed Hasil botched eight of 32 sterilisations. Six patients became pregnant and some had to abort.

Up to seven others later found out he had performed other surgical procedures on them without consent.

Paterson also criticised recruitment processes of the Whanganui District Health Board and Hasil's subsequent registration with the Medical Council.

Yet no one knew the full extent of his murky past. No one knew he was jailed in 1995 for domestic violence against his second wife in Singapore. No one knew he failed an Australian medical exam three times.

No one knew he left a New South Wales hospital after being accused of fiddling timesheets. No one knew he was sacked from another hospital for drinking on the job.

Worst of all, no one knew Hasil was a suspect in an infamous unsolved murder in Australia.

"Nothing would surprise me because it's all been so hideous what came out since he was here in Wanganui," said Fredericka Himmel, whose ovaries were removed without her consent on Hasil's orders.

"I think there's more in Australia, the life he led _ they have only just touched it."

ITALIAN BACKPACKER Victoria Cafasso had been in Tasmania only days before her body washed up on a beach in October, 1995.

According to a coroner's inquest, the 20-year-old law student had been battered in a "violent struggle", stabbed 21 times, knocked unconscious and dumped in the water.

There were no witnesses and few clues. More than 300 people were interviewed as potential suspects _ including Hasil.

The Czech-born doctor lived in St Helens, near the sleepy seaside township of Beaumaris where Cafasso was murdered.

He was deported to Australia in August 1995, shortly after being jailed in Singapore for threatening to kill second wife Rose Doyle.

Tasmanian police told the Herald on Sunday Hasil had no alibi and was still a "person of interest".

Detective Inspector Michael Otley said police had taken statements from three former partners in the past month.

"We've got these women saying he has a propensity for violence, a fascination with knives, that they don't like Hasil," Otley said.

"Most of what they've said has little leaning towards the case, other than this person was of a particular character."

But he did not rule out further interviews with Hasil if more evidence came to light. "I can't eliminate him."

WEEKS AFTER the murder, Roman Hasil left St Helens. Two years later he was employed at the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he failed written gynaecological exams three times in 1998 and 1999.