Fake medical fitness certificates rock hospital

MASERU — Police say they are investigating a case in which some employees at St Joseph’s Hospital in Roma fraudulently issued medical fitness certificates.

The certificates are issued to caterers after undergoing medical fitness examinations. The workers must be cleared of any infectious diseases such as tuberculosis or any other that might contaminate food.

Police spokesperson Senior Inspector Masupha Masupha said the hospital’s medical superintendent reported the matter to the police after he realised that his signature had been forged in the certificates.

“The medical superintendent got suspicious when some holders of the certificates came to have their documents renewed.

“He realised that even though it appeared he had signed the certificate, the stamp that had been used was not the one from his office,” Masupha said.

“He suspected that his signature was forged to issue the certificates. He reported the matter to the police and investigations are going on.”

Masupha said the hospital employees were receiving bribes to issue the certificates without undergoing the crucial tests.

Police are investigating another case where a Maseru man was robbed of M45 000 by people who said they were going to buy him a car in South Africa.

“The man reported the matter to the police when he could no longer get hold of the agents on their phones. He said he could only identify one of them,” Masupha said.

He said the police are alarmed by the recurrent incidences of fraud.

“We are worried. It seems that fraud is taking its toll on our people,” he said.

“People should be aware of this practice. It is just amazing how one can give away money as much as M45 000 to buy a car as if they are buying fat cakes.

“We have heard that there is a syndicate of fraudsters who are using a white woman to convince people into business deals only to disappear with all the money.”