Doctor remanded on fraud charges

A medical doctor was on Monday hauled before the court on allegations that he conned a health insurance company out of more than $5 million.

The accused, Alvin Grant, is charged with conspiracy to defraud, uttering forged documents, forgery, and obtaining money by means of false pretence. He pleaded not guilty in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

The Crown is alleging that Grant submitted claims to Guardian Life on behalf of some of his patients, however, when contacted, the patients denied making such claims and said the signatures which accompanied the claims were not made by them.

Grant was subsequently charged and granted station bail.

After hearing the allegations against the doctor, presiding judge, Senor Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey, added conditions to his bail.

"A stop order is in place and he is to submit all travel documents. Once he has done so, his bail will be extended. Until then, he stays with me. I have my reasons for doing so," Pusey said.

Grant's lawyer, Mel Brown, explained that he recently lost his passport and will therefore be unable to submit it. On that ground, he requested that his client's bail be extended without the submission of travel documents, however, the request was denied.

"We can check that out if a report was made." Pusey said.

The accused doctor is to return to court on May 9, when it is expected that outstanding files will be made available to complete the case file.