Man jailed 8 months for impersonating doctor

A 34-year-old San Fernando man was sentenced to eight months hard labour when he appeared before a San Fernando magistrate via virtual hearing for impersonating a doctor on at least two occasions.

Police said Satyam Harrilal was first seen by security at the hospital last Thursday but went into an elevator before he could be properly questioned by the security guard.

He was seen again on Monday wearing green hospital scrubs and told security guards that he did not have his identification on him as it was in his car that he loaned to his girlfriend at the time.

On further questioning Harrilal told the security that he was a doctor from Port of Spain doing consultancy work at the San Fernando General Hospital.

Checks from staff at the hospital revealed that Harrilal was not authorised or qualified to practice medicine and he was not the holder of a temporary licence or a member of the Medical Board of TT.

Security called the police who came and arrested Harrilal. He was charged with impersonating a medical doctor and was later sentenced to eight months hard labour by magistrate Anslem Leander.