'Bogus doctor' granted bail
A Nigerian man who allegedly posed as a fake doctor was on Tuesday granted bail by the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.
He faces charges of corruption and the violation of South African Immigration laws.
Anthony Nwuafor allegedly used fake qualifications to practice as a “doctor” in Polokwane in Limpopo for years and was operating in Pretoria at the time of his arrest on Friday, November 6.
Nwuafor was granted bail of R5,000 after he convinced the court on Tuesday that he was not a flight risk and would not jeopardise the administration of justice.
Handing down judgment, Magistrate Dayoff Mashapu said the submission by the State that Nwuafor was a flight risk was not founded.
“I found that the possibility that the accused might evade trial is not founded,” said Mashapu.
The State wanted Nwuafor to be kept in custody until his matter was finalised, and argued that he was a flight risk because he had dual citizenship with contradicting information.
Earlier on Tuesday, the court heard that Home Affairs records indicated that Nwuafor was born in 1965, while other records indicated he was born in 1966.
Nwuafor also claimed to have attained divorce papers at a high court but records indicated that his divorce papers were fraudulent.
During the bail hearing it emerged that Nwuafor had married twice within twelve months, information he disputed as he said his Nigerian marriage to a woman was “illegitimate” when he married a South African.
Mashapu said he was surprised that there were no fraud charges involving Nwuafor’s marital status.
Nwuafor, 50, was in the dock with Fareida Mall and his wife. Mall was released on bail and charges against his wife were withdrawn.
It is alleged that Nwuafor gave Mall R50,000 to have his confiscated travel and ID documents released by Home Affairs.
The state said Nwuafor’s bribe was an attempt to block investigations into his status.
Mashapu said if Nwuafor were to flee, he could have done so as he knew he had been under investigation for the past five years.
As part of his bail conditions, Nwuafor was ordered to report to Pretoria’s Sunnyside police station twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.
He was also ordered not to leave South Africa without first informing investigating officers.
The case was postponed to January 13.
ANA
File photo: Gallo Images