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The Herald, September 21, 1979

A MAN with a Form Four education who practiced as a doctor in Luveve for more than three years was jailed for six months by Bulawayo magistrate yesterday.

Ethiopian-born Jah Laish Keddah Korahn (34), described by the magistrate, Mr P  McCarthy, as “an absolute charlatan with no medical education whatsoever”, was sentenced to 12 months in jail, of which six months were suspended for five years.

The prosecutor, Mr P Berry, led evidence that Korahn had practiced from his home at 163 Luveve, where he had displayed a sign claiming to have 11 medical degrees.

Witnesses told the court Korahn had worn a white coat and had a stethoscope around his neck when he examined them, gave them injections, and charged fees at his home.

One of the witnesses said he had taken friends to Korahn to be treated after they were recommended to consult him.

Korahn, who pleaded not guilty to two charges under the Medical, Dental and Allied Professions Act, said he had been studying medicine as an external student at the University of London and had told the people he was “an undergraduate doctor.”

Two “certificates” displayed by Korahn to give the impression he was a doctor were instructions about how to fill in application forms for degree courses at the University of London, the magistrate said.

On a badge, which he wore in his surgery, Korahn listed a further four bogus qualifications, only one of which was the same as those in the sign in his practice.  Mr Rollason said the dirty medical instruments found by the Police at Korahn’s home would have been a danger to health.

Korahn was charged with operating as a doctor without being registered and of leading people to believe he was a doctor by displaying bogus diplomas.

The magistrate said he could find no case in law reports as serious as Korahn’s and despite the fact that it was a first conviction, and said Korahn should be jailed.

He said the court had a clear duty to protect the simple public from a charlatan and a quack like Korahn.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• The medicine is a specialised field that requires the services of qualified personnel such as doctors and nurses.
• Pretending to be a doctor or nurse is not only deceitful but also hazardous to people’s health.
• People need to be very attentive to detail and also be inquisitive especially when it comes to qualifications.
• Law enforcement agents and health personnel need to step up their monitoring systems to expose and deal with people who endanger the lives of other people.