POLOKWANE – Foreign national bogus dentist Taural Chihobo was convicted and sentenced for contravening the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974 and the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 by the Mankweng Regional Court in Limpopo.

Chihobo was arrested in Bok Street on June 6, 2023 during an operation that was lead by the Polokwane based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the HPCSA and the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau.

Read more: Bogus Zimbabwean dentist arrested in Polokwane

Chihobo was arrested after it was found that he was practicing as a dentist without being registered with the HPCSA.

“The team tactically visited the surgery and found the suspect treating patients as if allowed by the law. After failing to produce a licence to practice as a medical doctor, the suspect was placed under arrest,” provincial Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke said at the time.

Preliminary investigations also revealed that his passport and permit expired in 2021.

Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said Chihoho was denied bail until he was convicted on April 3 and sentenced as follows:

Count one: Contravention of section 17(1) of the Health Professions Act: “Chihobo was fined R5 000 or 12 months imprisonment and a further 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence.”

Count two: Contravening the Immigrant Act: “Chihobo was fined R1 000 or six months imprisonment,” Mmuroa says.

The acting provincial Hawks head Brigadier Alexander welcomed the sentence and applauded the wonderful job done by the team.