News / Local
Mpilo doctors defraud elderly patient
13 Aug 2013 at 12:23hrs | Views
TWO Mpilo Hospital doctors were on Friday fined $300 each after they forced an elderly patient to pay for an operation before pocketing the money.
Tichafara Chigwaza (25) and Wadzanai Chuma (37) pleaded guilty to fraud when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Abednico Ndebele.
Ndebele convicted and sentenced them to pay a fine of $300 each or spend three months in jail for the offence.
The court heard that on July 24, the two were at Mpilo Hospital when the complainant Mthandazo Ndlovu of Mpopoma visited the hospital accompanying his sick 81-year-old father.
Ndlovu was referred to Chigwaza who charged him $150 for the unspecified operation on his father, but he indicated that he had no money.
The complainant was given Chigwaza's mobile phone number to call when the money became available.
Ndlovu returned to the hospital the same day and gave the money to Chuma.
He demanded a receipt, but was given a fake acknowledgement of payment.
Chigwaza and Chuma shared the money after the operation.
However, Ndlovu received a statement showing his father was treated for free-according to government regulations stating that senior citizens must not be charged for medical services at public institutions.
Ndlovu reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of Chigwaza and Chuma.
Tichafara Chigwaza (25) and Wadzanai Chuma (37) pleaded guilty to fraud when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Abednico Ndebele.
Ndebele convicted and sentenced them to pay a fine of $300 each or spend three months in jail for the offence.
The court heard that on July 24, the two were at Mpilo Hospital when the complainant Mthandazo Ndlovu of Mpopoma visited the hospital accompanying his sick 81-year-old father.
Ndlovu was referred to Chigwaza who charged him $150 for the unspecified operation on his father, but he indicated that he had no money.
Ndlovu returned to the hospital the same day and gave the money to Chuma.
He demanded a receipt, but was given a fake acknowledgement of payment.
Chigwaza and Chuma shared the money after the operation.
However, Ndlovu received a statement showing his father was treated for free-according to government regulations stating that senior citizens must not be charged for medical services at public institutions.
Ndlovu reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of Chigwaza and Chuma.
Source - southerneye
