By Agencies

SOUTH AFRICA: Zimbabwean national Taurai Chihobo was recently convicted and sentenced after he was arrested for practicing as a dentist without being registered.

Chihobo was convicted for contravening the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974 and the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 by the Mankweng Regional Court in Limpopo.

“Chihobo was fined R5,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment and a further 12 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence,” said Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuro.

On the second count of contravening the Immigrant Act: “Chihobo was fined R1 000, or six months imprisonment.”

Chihobo was nabbed in June last year during an operation led by the Polokwane-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau.

It was then established that he was practising as a dentist without being registered with the HPCSA.

“The team tactically visited the surgery and found the suspect treating patients as if allowed by the law. After failing to produce a licence to practice as a medical doctor, the suspect was placed under arrest,” provincial Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke said at the time.

Preliminary investigations also revealed that his passport and permit expired in 2021.