Nurse in court for fraud

A professional nurse at the Donald Fraser Hospital, Azwihangwisi Ramukhadi (46), appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court last Friday on a charge of fraud.

He had allegedly defrauded a 38-year-old road-accident victim of more than R1 000.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that the official was arrested earlier on Friday after the police had investigated. A case was opened by the victim on Thursday, a day before Ramukhadi was arrested.

The police have urged all community members who may have fallen prey to a similar scam, to report the matter or contact the Crime Stop Number 0860 010 111 or the nearest police station.

According to the police report that, in August last year, the suspect allegedly requested the contact numbers of the victim, who had been admitted at the hospital after a car crash. After the patient was discharged from the hospital, the victim allegedly received a phone call from the suspect, who pretended to be lawyer who could assist with recovering a Road Accident Fund (RAF) claim.

“The bogus lawyer then requested the victim to deposit an amount of R1 500 to continue with the process. Several months later, the victim followed up on the case, but the suspect allegedly requested more money. The victim became suspicious and informed the police,” Mojapelo said.

Ramukhadi was granted R1 500 bail and will appear again on 2 March.

The spokesperson for the Department of Health in the province, Mr Neil Shikwambane, confirmed that the official had been suspended with immediate effect, pending the internal investigations.

News in brief - Date: 28 February 2020

Silas Nduvheni

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