NPA scraps case against ‘fake doctor’ Matthew Lani
The case against alleged bogus doctor Matthew Lani has been scrapped from the court roll.
Lani appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
This after he was arrested by the Helen Joseph Hospital security on Sunday night, disguised in a hoodie and wearing a surgical mask with a stethoscope around his neck.
The 27-year-old is notorious for claiming to be a medical practitioner from Wits Medical School and is already in hot water with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
Cambridge International College also indicated that it will be taking legal action against him.
Lani was facing charges of impersonating medical personnel.
Speaking to the media, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonodwana said there is no evidence that links the suspect to any case.
"With whatever that is contained in the docket, we, as the NPA, could not see any evidence that links the suspect to any alleged offence.
"With the evidence currently contained in the docket, we had to decide as the prosecution if there are any prospects of a successful prosecution or not, and having to do that simply meant that we had to differentiate and make a decision with what is before us.
"If we say that we have a person that can say they lied or are we having a person that has misrepresented, if we alleged that a person has misrepresented, then that must be followed by actual or potential prejudice.
"So, currently, in the information contained in the docket, we don't have such information hence, we have given instructions for investigations that must be complied with. Once it’s done, the docket can be brought back to the NPA for a decision."
