POLOKWANE – The 44 year-old doctor arrested for fraud, forgery and theft on Tuesday appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Wednesday).
According to Provincial Spokesperson for the Hawks, Capt Matimba Maluleke he appeared on charges of fraud, forgery, theft and unlawful possession of ARV tablets.
The case was postponed to 2 September and he was released on bail of R5 000.
The man was arrested at the Rethabile Clinic (watch video footage of the arrest) the after the Hawks’ Commercial Crime Unit followed up on a tip-off that the doctor had fraudulently acquired morphine for more than two years, by using another doctor’s details.
“He is thought to have acquired morphine since 2015 using another doctor’s stamp, a forged signature and a letterhead from the provincial Department of Health,” Maluleke said.
Following the arrest, a further investigation at the suspect’s home saw the confiscation of a large variety of medicine, including 35 bottles of antiretroviral (ARV) tablets, doctors’ stamps and other items believed to have been stolen from the Department of Health.
Maluleke said that it was not yet clear what the suspect’s motive was for being in possession of the medicine and other items.
The department of health welcomed the arrest said Health Spokesperson Derick Kganyago.
“We congratulate the Hawks on the arrest. As a department we work closely with law enforcement and it is important that we alert the police of irregularities and assist them where possible.”
He added that employees and people who make themselves guilty of wrongdoing must know that the department finds this unacceptable.
