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Zimbabwean technologist convicted of an online scam in Ireland
12 Jun 2013 at 10:52hrs | Views
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - A Zimbabwean technologist was convicted yesterday of an online scam selling products which claimed to "kill" Aids.
Admare Jinga used his base in Belfast to set up a company which advertised and distributed devices overseas, particularly to parts of Zimbabwe ravaged by the disease.
The 31-year-old University of Ulster graduate was found guilty of fraud by false representation.
He had already pleaded guilty to a second charge of marketing medicines for human use without proper authorisation.
Jinga, who now lives in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, will be sentenced next month. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard he established a company Savec Healthcare Ltd in 2007 while living in the south of the city.
Up until 2009 it marketed products as alternative forms of treatment for the HIV infection. They claimed to be able to kill, prevent or stop Aids, according to the prosecution.
One of them, the Omnivir Nano Aerosol, was produced by infusing oxygen canisters with a quantity of nano silver. Jinga's company also sold a device called the High Care Machine - an anti-wrinkle device he claimed had been adapted by the use of microcurrents.
A prosecution lawyer told the court it effectively just burnt the skin.
Jinga was said to have paid Google £10 a month to ensure his website came up top when anyone searched for a cure for Aids. After a range of customers gave evidence against him, Jinga took the stand to defend the fraud charge against him.
He said he became involved with pharmacists, a microbiologist and other Zimbabwean professionals concerned with the impact of HIV in their country.
"We claim the products kill HIV. On the website we never mentioned we are curing HIV," he insisted.
Jinga also argued that no complaints were ever received from those who used his products.
He added: "All these people go for viral tests every three months. Not a single person after having their checks complained to us it didn't work for them.
"If they had complained we would have given them a refund."
Admare Jinga used his base in Belfast to set up a company which advertised and distributed devices overseas, particularly to parts of Zimbabwe ravaged by the disease.
The 31-year-old University of Ulster graduate was found guilty of fraud by false representation.
He had already pleaded guilty to a second charge of marketing medicines for human use without proper authorisation.
Jinga, who now lives in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, will be sentenced next month. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard he established a company Savec Healthcare Ltd in 2007 while living in the south of the city.
Up until 2009 it marketed products as alternative forms of treatment for the HIV infection. They claimed to be able to kill, prevent or stop Aids, according to the prosecution.
One of them, the Omnivir Nano Aerosol, was produced by infusing oxygen canisters with a quantity of nano silver. Jinga's company also sold a device called the High Care Machine - an anti-wrinkle device he claimed had been adapted by the use of microcurrents.
Jinga was said to have paid Google £10 a month to ensure his website came up top when anyone searched for a cure for Aids. After a range of customers gave evidence against him, Jinga took the stand to defend the fraud charge against him.
He said he became involved with pharmacists, a microbiologist and other Zimbabwean professionals concerned with the impact of HIV in their country.
"We claim the products kill HIV. On the website we never mentioned we are curing HIV," he insisted.
Jinga also argued that no complaints were ever received from those who used his products.
He added: "All these people go for viral tests every three months. Not a single person after having their checks complained to us it didn't work for them.
"If they had complained we would have given them a refund."
Source - Belfast Telegraph
