SNOUTS IN RAF TROUGH

The stealing from the rich to give to the poor ala Robin Hood style is reprehensible enough - but stealing from the poor puts a person lower than shark shit as far as I am concerned! Now doctors and lawyers, who by their very nature are in a position to make a lot of money as it is, stealing from the Road Accident Fund and all the people who genuinely need those funds, fall into this category. How disgusting, shame on you!

Snouts in RAF trough
December 02 2006 at 11:51AM
By Fiona Gounden

A special squad of investigators is closing in on 59 doctors and 34 lawyers in KwaZulu-Natal who are prime suspects in Road Accident Fund fraud amounting to millions of rands. They will join four other Durban doctors who are facing fraud and racketeering charges of collectively having made R3,8-million in false claims. KwaZulu-Natal has had 421 cases of RAF fraud in the past three months and in addition to the doctors and lawyers, others involved are funeral home workers, RAF employees, hospital staff and "touts". Now a newly-launched task team comprising an RAF forensic team, SAPS Commercial Branch and the National Prosecutions Authority (NPA), is involved in various operations to catch these fraudsters.


A total of 392 fraudsters were nabbed during the months of September and October and 29 in November. According to communications officer for the RAF, Sarita Cronje, there were even more doctors and lawyers on the list. In the past year the RAF has lost R66 million in KwaZulu-Natal to fraudulent RAF payouts. "In November there were fraudulent claims to the RAF totalling R1 774 690."We are still trying to estimate the total cost of the rest of them," said Cronje. "The most common modus operandi is to fake accidents and add passengers who were not involved in the accidents."

This major bust comes in the wake of four Durban doctors appearing in court this week charged with RAF fraud. They and four "touts" will face charges of fraud and racketeering involving the submission of more than 200 false claims worth more than R3.8 million to the RAF. The doctors who appeared at the Durban Magistrate's Court on Tuesday were Devandra Perumal, Dhavagan Madurai, Cheten Mehta and Ritha Ramlal, and alleged "runners" Shena Singh, Kesavan Venketsamy, Frans Strydom and Shanoo Singh.

The suspects tried to claim amounts of between R6 000 and R50 000 from the fund. In total, they claimed R3.851 million although only about R400 000 was actually paid out. They will make their next appearance in August next year. Cronje said there had been an increase in the number of touts in KwaZulu-Natal who frequent police stations and hospitals looking for road accident victims. "After identifying the victim, these scamsters help them with the lodging of the claim through a particular firm of attorneys. They get paid by the attorney."Doctors claim to have seen and treated the accident victims,while this is not the case.

The tout or attorney will make an appointment with the doctor and deliver many of the necessary forms for completion and signature by the doctor. "Other doctors, who have not seen the patients, will, by virtue of completion of the form, certify that the patient was given a medical examination and medication which confirms that the claimant was involved in the accident. "Doctors also tell patients at provincial hospitals to come to their private practices for 'follow-up procedures' instead of returning to the provincial hospital," said Cronje."RAF employees have been found creating fraudulent claims in collusion with attorneys. "These employees also settle claims with attorneys for higher amounts than what the attorney has quoted the claimant."We have also found funeral homes issuing receipts for services which are far more than what was delivered. They also provide receipts reflecting payment by the claimant instead of via a policy.

"Health Department spokesman Leon Mbangwa said hospital staff and doctors found to be involved with RAF would be strictly dealt with. Jacob Modise, the CEO for the RAF, warned of the consequences of lodging a false claim. He reminded claimants that they could lodge a claim by themselves without any legal assistance, which would avoid them being exploited by opportunistic attorneys.

Anyone who has information about RAF fraud can call the helpline at 0860 235 523. Claimants who want to liaise with the RAF directly without the involvement of an attorney can telephone their regional offices in Durban at 031 365 2800 or Pretoria at 012 392 5000.

This article was originally published on page 1 of The Independent on Saturday on December 02, 2006