Bogus doctor sentenced

A South African medical malpractice law firm will apply for jurisdiction in the UK, to sue a hip implants manufacturer.

A South African medical malpractice law firm will apply for jurisdiction in the UK, to sue a hip implants manufacturer.

Published Sep 7, 2012

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Durban - A prostitute who duped two Durban hospitals into believing he was a cardiologist and a cancer specialist said he did it to get money to pay for antiretrovirals (ARVs).

Jonathan Peterson, 27, was sentenced to six years in prison, suspended for three years, in the Durban Commercial Crime Court on Thursday.

Peterson was found guilty of 43 counts of fraud, forgery and uttering.

Posing as a Dr Andile Duma, he spent more than two months at Inkosi Albert Luthuli and Prince Mshiyeni hospitals and also hoodwinked three business people into parting with nearly R200 000 in return for bogus hospital tenders.

Hlengabantu Ngwane, a social worker with the Department of Social Development, presented a psychosocial report on Peterson to the court.

According to the report, Peterson had told Ngwane that he committed the offences to purchase ARVs, stating that he spent R3 000 every two weeks for this.

But magistrate Sithembiso Maphumulo rejected the explanation, saying ARVs were free and that Peterson had stated previously that he committed the offences for financial gain.

Ngwane said Peterson was unemployed and would not be able to repay the money he made from his fraudulent activities. - Daily News

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