Pretoria - The Brits Regional Court has provisionally withdrawn fraud charges against Dr Ganesh Anil Anirudhra.
Dr Anirudhra, aged 51, was facing 319 charges for allegedly defrauding the private medical aid scheme, Bonitas Medical Scheme, and the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund between 2008 and 2012.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity under the authority of the Department of Labour. The Fund provides cover for workers injured and/or for diseases sustained at work.
Dr Anirudhra is alleged to have left a trail of fictitious claims against the Fund claiming to have treated ‘injured workers’ whom he did not treat. He allegedly made 218 illegal claims to Bonitas.
According to court papers, the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit is to conduct further investigations in the matter. The documents said there might be possible areas of investigation, which might have a bearing on the decision not to/to continue with the prosecution, especially in view of allegations made by Dr Anirudhra.
Previously, the state was awaiting a decision of the National Director of Public Prosecutions to decide on the court, which had jurisdiction to prosecute on the matter.
The accused has been out on a R20 000 bail. He is alleged to have been on the run for years, until December 2012, when he was arrested by the Hawks at his place of work, George Mukhari Hospital in Garankuwa. A total of no less than 15 witnesses were lined up to testify in the trial.
He was previously convicted in 1989 and 1991 for fraud. It is also alleged that he practiced as a gynaecologist while only registered as a general practitioner. – SAnews.gov.za
