COMMANDER of ‘D’ Division, Leslie James, on Monday confirmed that the Orthopaedic Technician fingered in a fraud case at the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region Three was placed on bail.

“The matter is currently under investigation and will conclude shortly,” the Commander stated, while noting that statements were taken from both the accused and the complainant following a confrontation.

A Senior Official attached to the Public Health Ministry’s Secretariat, however, on Monday expressed the view that the police have taken a non-cooperative approach towards the Ministry, contending that information is being withheld.

Additionally, Guyana Chronicle was told that the alleged case of fraud made out against the Orthopaedic Technician was not reported to the Regional Executive Officer (REO), as such no system has been put in place to suspend the suspect from the job.

As such, a Senior Office from the Ministry’s Secretariat was on Monday dispatched to the West Demerara Hospital to query why the matter was not reported to the RDC and by extension the REO.

It is alleged that an Orthopaedic Technician, attached to the Hospital, has impersonated an Orthopaedic Surgeon there and for a number of years, has been collecting monies from patients to conduct surgeries and other medical services.

The Orthopaedic Technician has reportedly been under the radar since 2010 for suspected fraudulent activities; however, the authorities there were unable to launch an investigation into the matter because affected patients were afraid to step forward.

It is alleged that the Technician, who carries the same first name as the surgeon, has been charging patients for services rendered, while signing bogus receipts under the impression that he was the surgeon. For minor services, the Technician would charge patients $3,000, however, for surgeries and other major services the figures went well into the hundreds of thousands.

In recent days, the Technician has been reportedly demanding $400,000 from a woman, whose relative is required to do a corrective surgery for a fractured foot. The woman, who hails from Kwakwani, Region 10, reportedly pleaded with the Technical, stating that she could only afford to pay $20, 000 but the Technician insisted on the $400, 000.

He allegedly explained that there are other practitioners who would have to be paid to get the surgery done. The matter is currently engaging the attention of the Public Health Ministry.