The trial of ‘broke’ doctor Tebogo Ephraim Kealetsa (36) operating from Pampierstad Haitwater in the Northern Cape alleged to have defrauded the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund will resume tomorrow (February 28) in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
Kealetsa is alleged to have defrauded the Department’s Compensation Fund about R680 000. The defendant is alleged to have defrauded the fund by submitting claim forms for patients he had never treated. He last appeared on January 25, and told the Court he could no longer afford paying for his legal representation after pleading poverty.
His lawyer Samuel Molele told the Court that they were requesting a postponement of the trial, “because our client is no longer able to pay outstanding fees and on that basis the legal team was unable to prepare”.
Molele further submitted to the Court that invoices submitted by Dr Kealetsa to Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) were not paid, thus resulting in him having cash flow problems.
He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud. Kealetsa is out on a bail of R5000.
Kealetsa was arrested on 25 August 2010 after making two alleged “illegal” claims against the Department’s Compensation Fund. The Fund processed his claims in good faith only to discover that these were allegedly untoward.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity of the Department of Labour whose duty is to cover for compensation of workers injured during work or diseases sustained or contracted.
Northern Cape doctor who ‘pleaded poverty’ after allegedly defrauding Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund to appear
