Fake medical doctor remanded

Accra, April 23, GNA - A 38-year-old Teacher, who allegedly used the certificates of a dead medical doctor to practise in some hospitals has been remanded into prison custody by an Accra Circuit Court. Jojo Atta Peters pleaded not guilty to stealing, impersonation, and assuming false professional title.

He is to reappear on Wednesday, May 5. Peters has told the Police that he is standing trial at a Circuit Court in Koforidua for a similar offence.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector George Abavelim told the Court that the Police was still investigating the case as he had practised in some hospitals.

The Court chaired by Mrs Elizabeth Ankumah, therefore, remanded him into prison custody for further investigations. The case for the Prosecution is that Peters resides at Bubuashie in Accra.

On April 15 the Police had a tip-off that Peters had applied for a job at the Midway Clinic as a Medical Doctor.

The Prosecution said when he presented his certificates to the Ghana Medical and Dental Council for verification, they were found to belong to one David Atta Peters, who died in 2001.

The Prosecution said as a result, the Police mounted surveillance at the premises of Midway Clinic and on April 19 when the accused showed up to check on his application he was arrested.

According to the Prosecution, when Peters was searched, a stethoscope, a pair of scissors, a book entitled: "A guide to physical examination and history taking" and eight pictures portraying that he had been practising as a medical doctor, were found on him. Chief Inspector Abavelim said during interrogation, Peters admitted the offence and told the Police that the late Dr David Atta Peters was his friend adding that in 2001, the late Dr Peters travelled to London and asked him to renew his medical licence at the Ghana Medical and Dental Council.

The accused person said it was during that time that Dr Peters committed suicide in a hotel at Tema, and so he decided to use the certificates to work as a medical doctor as they bore the same name. Chief Inspector Abavelim said the accused person also confessed that in August 2003 he was arrested for using the certificates to work at the Atua Government Hospital and that the case was pending before a Circuit Court in Koforidua.