France, Dec. 18 -- Frederic Pechier, 53, was found guilty of contaminating IV bags to trigger cardiac arrests or haemorrhages in patients treated by colleagues in two clinics in the eastern city of Besancon between 2008 and 2017.

The court heard that Pechier tainted IV bags with potassium, local anaesthetics, adrenaline and an anticoagulant. His youngest victim, 4-year-old Teddy, survived two cardiac arrests during a routine tonsil operation in 2016. The oldest victim was 89.

"You will be incarcerated immediately," presiding judge Delphine Thibierge said as the verdict was delivered.

Pechier, who has denied wrongdoing since the investigation began in 2017 and had not been held in custody, appeared unmoved.

Members of his family broke ...