Doctor in court for fraud

Published Oct 21, 2011

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A doctor who allegedly defrauded the compensation fund of more than R660 000 appeared in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court on Friday, the department of labour said.

Tebogo Ephraim Kaeletsa, who practised in Pampierstad in the Northern Cape, allegedly submitted claim forms for patients he had not treated, spokesman Page Boikanyo said.

Jabu Zwane, a consultant acting on behalf of the department, told the court he had investigated the allegations against Kaeletsa.

He said he obtained an incriminating sworn statement by Kaeletsa from free will.

Zwane said he did not inform the accused that the statement he got through his investigations would be used in court.

Defence attorney Simon Molele told the court Zwane threatened his client with arrest if he did not craft the statement in a manner prescribed to him.

“I could not threaten any person with arrest, because I am not a police officer,” Zwane said.

Magistrate Dawie Jacobs said: “A threat of arrest is not undue influence, especially if the arrest is legal”.

Kaeletsa would remain out on bail of R5 000 until his reappearance on January 25.

On Wednesday, Rustenburg physiotherapist Jurry Sehunoe pleaded guilty to 28 counts of money laundering and 15 cases of fraud. Sehunoe, together with former labour department employees Maxwell Ramaphosa and Samuel Mfeleng, appeared on charges of defrauding the Compensation Fund of more than R3 million. - Sapa

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