A Westmoreland County doctor charged last week with 24 counts of illegally providing prescription drugs will remain in custody, awaiting trial on two federal charges of money laundering.

Antoine Cawog, 62, was deemed a flight risk after a federal prosecutor presented testimony Monday before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Francis X. Caiazza that Dr. Cawog had transferred nearly $1.7 million to two bank accounts in Lebanon from accounts he had held in the United States since 2004.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch also elicited testimony that Dr. Cawog, who is originally from Syria, has three daughters attending college in Lebanon, and that he had told a confidential informant in the case that he planned to move there soon.

Dr. Cawog, who practiced in Irwin, was arrested last week after state drug agents said they were able to obtain controlled substances from him without full medical exams or proper testing.