A Limpopo-based psychologist, 41-year-old Penelope Homu, has appeared before the Giyani Specialised Commercial Crime Court facing charges of fraud.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said the medical practitioner pleaded guilty to the charges before she was sentenced.
“She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a fine of R120,000 or five years imprisonment. She was further declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Limpopo spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa.
In 2021, Platinum Health Medical Scheme (PHMS) noticed a spike in claims for the period from February 2, 2020 to December 18, 2020.
Mmuroa said an internal investigation was conducted, and it was established that the claims were submitted by a health care practitioner, Homu.
“During the above-mentioned period, the PHMS received more complaints from their members regarding claims submitted by the health care practitioner without their knowledge or concerns as they did not receive any health care services,” said Mmuroa.
“During analysis of the claims, the medical scheme found more anomalies such as claims for multiple beneficiaries and multiple referring practices.”
It was further discovered that Homu had not rendered any services to the medical scheme members or their dependants as she had claimed, based on falsified information.
Forensic investigators revealed that the PHMS members suffered a loss of R192,000 and the medical scheme suffered a loss amounting to R555,000 which was paid to Homu.
A case docket of fraud was opened at Ritavi police station in Limpopo and it was transferred to the Hawks serious commercial crime investigation unit for further handling.
“Through healthy working relationship between the Hawks, forensic investigators and the National Prosecuting Authority, the case was handled properly until the accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced accordingly,” said Mmuroa.
Meanwhile, provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Major General Gopz Govender has saluted the investigators for their efforts in ensuring that the psychologist faced the mighty hand of the law.
IOL