Doctor who defrauded Compensation Fund sentenced

THE Labour Department yesterday announced a medical doctor, who defrauded the Compensation Fund (CF) of close to R400 000, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, suspended for five years.

The sentence, handed down on Tuesday, means David Michael Adams, 42, won’t spend a day in jail unless guilty, of theft or attempted theft, in the next five years.

“In terms of the sentence, Dr Adams is expected to submit himself and undergo three years of correctional supervision (house arrest, perform community service, life skills and orientation programme, desist from alcohol and drug abuse),” department spokesperson Teboho Thejane said in a statement.

Adams was convicted in April, on 29 counts of theft. He received unlawful payments from the CF totalling R396 660 and was arrested in 2010, while he worked in Rustenburg, North West.

The State asked that he be handed a custodial sentence, saying Adams was not a lay person, was educated and received a regular income “while taking away from the poor”.

“Magistrate Ncube said the sentence was fair considering the accused was a first offender, had shown remorse and offered to pay back his ill-gotten gains,” said Thejane.

He said the Asset Forfeiture Unit had obtained an order allowing the confiscation of Adams’ assets.

“He is also due to pay R470 000 back to the State.”

The Compensation Fund is a public entity which covers the medical funds of workers injured on the job. – ANA