Doctor arrested for fraud

A Westmoreland-based medical doctor accused of defrauding an insurance company of nearly $5 million has found himself in trouble with the law.

Thirty-six-year old Dr Jepthroy Thompson was charged with breaches of the Larceny Act after investigation by the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (CTOC)

Thompson, a resident of Big Bridge, Westmoreland, was charged on Wednesday.

CTOC reported that between June 2013 and October last year, Thompson submitted claims for payment to a health-insurance agency, stating surgery was done on individuals with the assistance of a particular anaesthetist and an assistant surgeon.

The company paid $4.9 million to Thompson.

Investigations revealed that the anaesthetist and the assistant surgeon had not participated in any of the surgeries and were not beneficiaries of any money paid to Dr Thompson.

A report was made to the Fraud Squad in September.

Thompson is scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area Criminal Court on January 6 to answer charges of obtaining money by means of false pretence, forgery, uttering forged documents and demanding money by means of forged documents.