Doctor sentenced for selling meds worth R5m

A CAPE TOWN doctor has been sentenced after entering into a plea agreement with the State in connection with the selling and distribution of scheduled medicine worth about R5 million.

Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said the Wynberg Magistrate's Court sentenced Bert Wolfgang Kirsten on Friday after he pleaded guilty to 1198 counts of selling scheduled medicine as well as 570 counts of money laundering in terms of Section 4 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca).

The sentencing was the result of an investigation led by the Western Cape Hawks South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (Saneb) team, Hani said.

“This emanates from an incident in October 2018, where scheduled medicine was seized after search warrants were executed as part of a Hawks probe into an alleged illegal medicine distribution network involving multiple countries.

“Kirsten as well as his wife were arrested by the Hawks' South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau, together with the Wynberg Visible Policing Unit at Kenilworth post office after he had handed in envelopes containing scheduled medicines destined for the United States,” Hani said.

The couple appeared in court on charges of contravening the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act‚ read with the Drug and Drug Trafficking Act.

For selling and distribution of scheduled medicine, Kirsten was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of the same offence during the period of suspension.

Kirsten was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for money laundering, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of the same offence during the period of suspension.

He was also sentenced to three years' correctional supervision.

“The value of the accused's proceeds amounts to R5 million which resulted in a confiscation order being granted for the amount of R5 million which will be paid into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (Cara).

“All counts against the wife were withdrawn,” Hani said.