A registered nurse has pleaded guilty to making a false HIV claim in order to get R1 million insurance payout.
According to a report by the IOL, she falsely claimed she contrated the deadly HIV virus while on duty.
Her name is Shevon Naidoo and she works for a laboratory that services insurance companies, however, she was unable to defend the claim she made in July 2019 claim she made with the Old Mutual Group.
To convince them, she submitted the test results of another HIV-infected person as her own, only for it to backfired.
She was subsequently charged with fraud and upon interrogation, she admitted her wrongdoing and made a Section 112 guilty plea.
She made the guilty plea when she appeared in the Durban Regional Court. She was given a five-year jail sentence, which was suspended for five years, and a R10 000 fine or six months’ imprisonment.
The Magistrate, Magistrate Anand Maharaj stated in his ruling that he considered various factors before handing down the sentence.
The factors considered are the interests of society, her personal circumstances- thus being a mother of two young children, and that she took the court into her confidence by pleading guilty and not wasting time.
She was told she would have received a term of incarceration if the matter went to trial and she was convicted.
The background story is that the lady claimed to become HIV infected after sustaining a needle injury and to make her claim she consulted a doctor, who requested her to do a blood test.
She was able to get the tests done through her network of contacts, and finally, she got the test results of an HIV-infected person to submit as her own.
She was busted when Old Mutual’s forensic investigators began assessing the evidence she provided and requested further information.
She became very uncooperative as she became fed up with the constant suggestions to do another blood test before admitting her claim was not genuine.
Making her confession, she said;
I misrepresented that during one of my interactions with a client/patient. I was injured by one of the needles and thereby acquired HIV.
“I saw this as an opportunity to make some extra money to sustain myself and my family and went along with this plan.
I admit my actions were wrongful and unlawful. I have no defence in law.”
The Magistrate during his ruling said;
“I am mindful you pleaded guilty and took the court into your confidence. On the other hand, in terms of the offense and the manner in which you committed the offense, it creates the impression in my mind that you are an extremely cunning and deceptive person.
You had the presence of mind to take a policy in January and falsify information a few months later to suggest that you were HIV infected, in order for you to claim a million rand.
I agree with the State that this is a ‘extreme case of greed’. You were employed and earning a salary.”
Source: ghgossip.com
