News / National
Bogus doctor ordered to perform 175 hours of community service
22 Dec 2011 at 05:23hrs | Views
A HARARE High School temporary teacher, Pardon Muvengwa (32) who masqueraded as a medical doctor at Parirenyatwa Hospital and swindled desperate job seekers of more than US$600 was yesterday ordered to perform 175 hours of community service, the Herald reported.
The court heard that Muvengwa was once a nurse at the referral hospital before being discharged for misconduct.
Muvengwa pleaded guilty to three courts of fraud when he appeared before magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera.
Muvengwa in mitigation pleaded for the court's lenience, indicating that he was not earning much as a relief teacher. Mr Kubonera sentenced Muvengwa to a year behind bars and four months were set aside on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Another three months were suspended on condition that Muvengwa restitutes Oleen Tsikai of US$233 and Sandra Madzongwe of US$35 before January 15 next year.
Another five months were set aside on condition that he performs 175 hours of community service at Glen View District office starting on December 21.
Prosecutor, Ms Rutendo Manimanzi said Muvengwa asked Tsikai what had happened to her several applications for a nurse training vacancy at the hospital.
He told her to re-apply and give him the application so that he could hand it over personally to the hospital. In late October, Muvengwa wrote a letter inviting Tsikai for interviews and set September 5 as the interview date. The interview did not take place but Muvengwa wrote to Tsikai in mid-November indicating that she was supposed to start an induction course on November 24.
The letter had a list of requirements amounting to US$233 and Tsikai duly gave Muvengwa the money. She realised that she had been duped when police invited her as a witness after Muvengwa was arrested.
Muvengwa also duped a police officer, Liberty Marere (25) after he went to Avondale Police Station to have his fingerprints and those of his two friends taken.
Marere asked the purpose of the fingerprints and was told that they were for vetting in an application for a post as a trainee nurse.
He got interested and asked Muvengwa if he could assist his wife Cheryl Samukange who wanted to train as a nurse.
Muvengwa agreed and instructed Marere to give him photocopies of certificates and identification particulars. On December 12 Muvengwa phoned Marere and told him that his wife had been admitted for the nurse training course.
He also told him US$379 was needed and Marere agreed to pay. The money was paid on December 14 and Muvengwa promised to give Marere a receipt later.
Marere's wife phoned her friend Sandra Madzongwe informing her that she too could be assisted to get a training vacancy as a nurse. Madzongwe and Muvengwa met at the hospital and Muvengwa masqueraded as Dr Sithole.
Madzongwe was instructed to write an application letter.
Muvengwa took it and returned a shirt while informing her that she had been admitted for the course.
He instructed her to bring US$353 for uniforms and other requirements. Madzongwe only managed to get US$35, which she gave to Muvengwa.
Meanwhile, Marere proceeded to CID Headquarters to process vetting of his wife's fingerprints and was instructed to report at Parirenyatwa Hospital's Ambulance section.
On December 13, Muvengwa was arrested in possession of birth certificates and educational photocopies of all the complainants prompting police officers to contact them.
The court heard that Muvengwa was once a nurse at the referral hospital before being discharged for misconduct.
Muvengwa pleaded guilty to three courts of fraud when he appeared before magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera.
Muvengwa in mitigation pleaded for the court's lenience, indicating that he was not earning much as a relief teacher. Mr Kubonera sentenced Muvengwa to a year behind bars and four months were set aside on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Another three months were suspended on condition that Muvengwa restitutes Oleen Tsikai of US$233 and Sandra Madzongwe of US$35 before January 15 next year.
Another five months were set aside on condition that he performs 175 hours of community service at Glen View District office starting on December 21.
Prosecutor, Ms Rutendo Manimanzi said Muvengwa asked Tsikai what had happened to her several applications for a nurse training vacancy at the hospital.
He told her to re-apply and give him the application so that he could hand it over personally to the hospital. In late October, Muvengwa wrote a letter inviting Tsikai for interviews and set September 5 as the interview date. The interview did not take place but Muvengwa wrote to Tsikai in mid-November indicating that she was supposed to start an induction course on November 24.
The letter had a list of requirements amounting to US$233 and Tsikai duly gave Muvengwa the money. She realised that she had been duped when police invited her as a witness after Muvengwa was arrested.
Marere asked the purpose of the fingerprints and was told that they were for vetting in an application for a post as a trainee nurse.
He got interested and asked Muvengwa if he could assist his wife Cheryl Samukange who wanted to train as a nurse.
Muvengwa agreed and instructed Marere to give him photocopies of certificates and identification particulars. On December 12 Muvengwa phoned Marere and told him that his wife had been admitted for the nurse training course.
He also told him US$379 was needed and Marere agreed to pay. The money was paid on December 14 and Muvengwa promised to give Marere a receipt later.
Marere's wife phoned her friend Sandra Madzongwe informing her that she too could be assisted to get a training vacancy as a nurse. Madzongwe and Muvengwa met at the hospital and Muvengwa masqueraded as Dr Sithole.
Madzongwe was instructed to write an application letter.
Muvengwa took it and returned a shirt while informing her that she had been admitted for the course.
He instructed her to bring US$353 for uniforms and other requirements. Madzongwe only managed to get US$35, which she gave to Muvengwa.
Meanwhile, Marere proceeded to CID Headquarters to process vetting of his wife's fingerprints and was instructed to report at Parirenyatwa Hospital's Ambulance section.
On December 13, Muvengwa was arrested in possession of birth certificates and educational photocopies of all the complainants prompting police officers to contact them.
Source - TH
