Fake vet found guilty of assault

The long-running case of a fake veterinarian charged with attempted murder of a friend, covered several times in Alex News, finally ended on 29 May at Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.

Read story here: Fake veterinary surgeon on the run

Accused 66-year-old Anthony Balomenos was found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on 68-year-old Dawid van Staden. He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or a R3 000 fine which he paid, with an additional sentence of 24 months which was suspended for five years.

The initial attempted murder charge resulted from Balomenos running over Van Staden with a vehicle in April last year in Woodmead leaving him hospitalised for months. Van Staden told Alex News that he incurred a huge medical bill from the treatment and is now partially disabled.

The case began when the two men’s relationship soured following the death of Van Staden’s sick dog, which he relied on for income through a motor company advert, at the hands of Balomenos who has a previous conviction of impersonating a vet. Balomenos also laid a counter-charge in which he claimed that Van Staden threatened him and his 90-year-old mother after the death of the dog, a charge the victim didn’t deny.

Read: Vet’s case postponed

In his judgment, Magistrate Renier Boshoff advised that it wasn’t necessary for them to want to mend a broken friendship, and they should keep their distance from each other.