Sentencing in bogus radiologist case postponed to November

A Gqeberha woman who falsified her radiology qualification, working at Livingstone Hospital for six months before it was uncovered, appeared briefly in the specialised commercial crimes court on Monday.

Dressed in an olive blouse and fawn flannel trousers, Asisipho Mbekela, 27, appeared nervous in the gallery as she awaited the start of the pre-sentencing proceedings.

On August 31, magistrate Lionel Lindoor found Mbekela guilty of three counts of fraud and two of forgery.

She sobbed uncontrollably after the verdict was read, prompting her attorney Peter Daubermann to ask for an adjournment at the time.

On Monday, she learnt she would have to wait a further six weeks for her sentence to be imposed as the court waits for pre-sentencing reports.

The case was postponed to November 29 and Mbekela remains out on warning after the court extended her bail.

The state had received the supervision report from the correctional services department but a probation officer report was still outstanding.

Mbekela declined to comment after leaving the court.

For six months from March 1 2016, Mbekela fooled her colleagues and patients at Livingstone Hospital into thinking she was a qualified radiologist.

The situation was uncovered on September 20 2016, leading to her immediate dismissal. — Heraldlive