French court jails ‘dentist of horror’
PARIS: A French court on Tuesday sentenced a Dutch dentist to eight years in jail for deliberately mangling his patients’ mouths in a case which saw him dubbed “the dentist of horror”.
Jacobus van Nierop, 51, went on trial in March for ripping out healthy teeth and leaving dozens of patients with injuries including broken jaws, recurrent abscesses and septicaemia in the small central town of Chateau-Chinon.
He was found guilty of the charge of “mutilation” as well as premeditated violence and fraud over claims that he tried to rip off patients and insurance companies.
The court in the central town of Nevers also banned him from practising as a dentist and fined him 10,500 (RM46,600).
“This is a brilliant victory because we weren’t sure he would get eight years, even if that will never be enough for those who are handicapped for life,” said Nicole Martin, president of a victims’ association.
Prosecutor Lucile Jaillon-Bru said Nierop had carried out “useless and painful procedures” on about 100 patients with the aim of having them reimbursed by medical insurance schemes. She said he took “pleasure at causing pain” to his patients.
Nierop, who called himself Mark, was hired by a head-hunter and was initially welcomed by locals into an area which was lacking in medical services.
A neighbour recalled the arrival of a smiley, larger-than-life character, with a “big 4x4, a big dog, a big cigar”. – AFP