By Sharlene Packree
A Former Durban doctor and his common-law wife, already out on bail for alleged medical aid fraud of R30-million, were arrested on new fraud charges on Friday.
Moonsamy Soobramoney, 42, and Maliga Pillay, 45, had allegedly taken out a bond of more than R1.9 million to buy a house using false documents, police said today. Instead of buying a house the couple allegedly pocketed the money.
Soobramoney is also said to have sold a flat in Marine Sands worth R415 000 under a fictitious name.
Following long and intensive investigations, warrants for both suspects were issued.
A team, headed by Captain Piet du Plooy of the Durban Commercial Crime Unit, arrested Soobramoney at his Cordia Crescent home and Pillay at her home in Addison Drive, La Lucia.
The couple will be charged with two counts of fraud which was allegedly committed during the purchase and sale of the properties.
Soobramoney and Maliga are currently out on bail of R700 000 for 75 383 counts of medical aid fraud.
The previous allegations claim that the couple, together with medical aid members, submitted false claims to five medical aid schemes totalling R46,6-million. They were paid out R31,2-million.
According to police Superitendent Vishnu Naidoo, Soobramoney and Pillay will appear in court today and the police will oppose bail.
Du plooy was tasked with the investigation after information on these allegations were received from an auditing company.
"Members of the Commercial Crime Unit arrested Soobramoney and Pillay at their homes in Umhlanga and La Lucia respectively," said provincial police Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo.
After the arrest, Pillay was hostile towards the media and screamed: "Can't you leave us alone?"