Updated: Wed Nov. 18 2009 16:04:49

ctvedmonton.ca

A doctor has pleaded not guilty to plotting the death of his former brother-in-law and business partner who worked in Edmonton.

Dr. Michael Mockovak, co-founder of the Clearly Lasik eye surgery centres, was willing to pay more than $100,000 to have two business partners killed, including Dr. Joseph King, who performs laser eye surgeries in Edmonton weekly.

Federal agents say Dr. Michael Mockovak attempted to hire the Russian mafia to carry out the hit.

Mockovak was in Seattle court Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty two counts of criminal solicitation to commit first-degree-murder. King was in court as well, asking the judge to not grant Mockovak bail.

"He knows so many details about me, our lives, that I'm tremendously concerned that, if he is released, he'll try to finish the job," said King.

The judge implemented a restraining order, having Mockovac stay a half-mile away from King. He also lowered the accused killer's bail from three million dollars to two million dollars. There is no word yet whether it's been posted.

The bail was originally set at one million dollars but raised after the judge said Mockovac showed to be a threat to the alleged murder-for-hire targets as well as a flight risk.

The King family issued a statement shortly after Mockovac's arrest which said, in part, "It is incomprehensible how someone could deliberately plan to take someone's life and completely devastate a family. We feel very blessed to be alive."

Prosecutors say King and Mockovak co-founded Clearly Lasik eye surgery centres across Western Canada and the northwestern United States.

When profits sank last year, the doctors fired several employees, prompting former company president Brad Klock to file a complaint in court.

Mockovak responded by asking a Russian-born employee for mafia connections as he wanted King and Klock "eliminated," according to court documents. The employee reported Mockovak to the FBI.

Documents also showed that King had taken out as $5-million insurance policy that listed either Mockovak or Clearly Lasik as beneficiaries. It also said Mockovak wanted King's death to look like an accident and suggested drowning as a method while King was on vacation in Australia.

Mockovak called King "greedy" for his apparent plans to split the company and thought King was taking advantage of him, this according to the documents.

Agents arrested Mockovak last week without incident at the YMCA in Newcastle, Washington. They searched his home just hours later while neighbours watched.

"I know he's had some financial troubles like everybody else has had due to the times. The economy is bad. People had to cut back," said neighbour Cheryl Jiambalvo. "Whether that would make him do anything drastic, I wouldn't think so."

Federal agents say the King family is in hiding, because they fear for their safety.

Klock's attorney said his client learned of the murder-for-hire scheme while he was out of the country.

With files from Scott Roberts- CTV News and Chris Norton - KOMO News Seattle