A 29-year-old self-styled medical doctor, Bright Afful, who has been operating illegally in the Central Region,was on Friday remanded in police custody, by a Cape Coast Circuit Court.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and the court presided over by Mrs Dorinda Smith Arthur adjourned the case to Tuesday, January 11.
Detective Chief Inspector John Asare Bediako, told the Court that Mr Bright Atsu-Fuglo, an Administrative Manager of Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC),reported to the police that the accused, who posed as a doctor,had been providing medical services without authorisation in the region, particularly Agona-Swedru Municipality.
The court heard that the GMDC had received complaints about activities of fraudsters, who claimed they could change unsuccessful medical examination results of victims to successful ones for a fee.
Chief Insp. Bediako said when the GMDC conducted investigations into the complaints,the accused was identified as the brain behind the fake activities.
He said last year, Mr Atsu-Fuglo under the guise of a foreign student, contacted the accused on WhatsApp that he needed an authentic medical report.
Chief Insp. Bediako said Afful responded to Mr Atsu-Fuglo’s message, claiming to be a medical doctor at the Agona-Swedru Municipal Hospital.
He said the accused demanded GH¢10,000 from the complaint, to change his unsuccessful medical examination result to a positive one.
The court heard that Afful received an initial amount of GH¢200.00 from Mr Atsu-Fuglo, and requested to meet him at Agona-Swedru for the remaining GH¢98,000.00.
Chief Insp. Bediako said Mr Atsu-Fuglo reported the accused to the police and he (Afful) was arrested.
Prosecution said when the police searched the room of accused, they found 529 medical diagnosis, prescription forms, Ghana Health Services stickers, letterheads, medical screening materials, medical doctor’s stamp and medical identity cards.
Chief Insp. Bediako said police investigations revealed that the accused also operated an unregistered non-governmental organisation, “SAVE THE NATION CAMPAIGN”, which provided medical services to people in deprived communities.
Afful recruited a team to carry out health screening in Agona and Gomoa Dominase in the Central Region, and Akim-Anweaso Number 4, near Akwatia, in the Eastern Region, and prescribed medications to beneficiaries. -GNA
