R500 000 fraud: 2 medics held

2003-06-06 10:38

Middelburg - Two medical practitioners were arrested by the Scorpions on Friday for allegedly defrauding the Road Accident Fund of more than R500 000 in Middelburg, the investigative unit reported.

Gauteng Scorpions head Gerhard Nel said the two, a therapist and a medical specialist, were arrested for also allegedly submitting false claims to the fund. The crimes were committed between 1999 and 2002.

The Scorpions swooped on the practitioners' homes in Middelburg, west of Pretoria, during an early-morning raid.

Some documents were recovered from their property during the operation.

The two were expected to appear in Middelburg regional court on Friday on 160 counts of fraud.

Nel said the Scorpions were scheduled to conduct searches at a nearby business premises owned by somebody else.

"We intend confiscating some documents that will help us with our investigation."

He said the owner of the property was not suspected of any wrongdoing yet.

- SAPA