Veriano Fungulani, the stethoscope-dangling young man who was exposed and arrested for being a fake doctor at Mchinji District Hospital on Tuesday last week, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL).
The young man—who was charged with impersonating public officers, contrary to Section 99 (b) of the Penal Code—temporarily caused drama in court when he virtually ‘dribbled’ the police by disputing and drastically changing the initial details he had made the law-enforcers to record in their case file.
In their file, the police initially thought they were taking Blessings Chisale, aged 39, from Chimwaza Village in Mchinji District, before first grade magistrate Rodwell Meja last Friday.
In court, the young man said he was Fungulani, aged 29, and came from Chisale Village in Traditional Authority Chimwaza in Dowa District. He was asked to repeat his identity details, apparently after it was noted that he seemed a slippery character.
Prosecutor Effie Chilomo tried to prove the devious and crooked nature of Veriano, who had earlier given the police different personal details. She pointed out that a company security card picture found in his possession made out the young man’s name as C. Simiko.
Passing judgement, Meja said he slapped the offender with a stiff sentence because the offence was a serious one that threatened public security.
