Isaac Sumatu, a 38-year-old student claiming to be from the Regional Maritime University in Accra, was sentenced last Wednesday to a fine of GH 12,000 by the Ho Circuit Court for extorting money from a teacher at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) by posing as a gynecologist and offering her a mixture of medications.Sumatu was brought to the Ho Central Prison to serve a two-year prison sentence in lieu of the fine after failing to pay it.
He admitted to practicing medicine without the required registration and entered a plea of guilty with justification.
However, the Felix Datsomor-presiding court determined that Sumatu's explanation was compatible with his plea and punished him accordingly.
The prosecutor, Inspector Benjamin Amoako, told the court that on September 15, 2023, Sumatu arrived at the hospital and contacted a woman who was there.
He requested a private conversation with her, but she declined, claiming she didn't know who he was.
At this moment, the accused identified himself as "Dr Edward, a gynaecologist at the facility," and informed her that he had discovered something peculiar about her abdomen.
According to the prosecution, Sumatu advised the woman that if immediate action was not taken, her womb would become clogged, rendering her unable to conceive in the future.
The imposter then directed the woman to return to the hospital the next day for treatment, during which he would confirm the availability of the required drugs.
"On the scheduled day, Sumatu called the woman and assured her that the prescribed medications for her condition were available." "He asked her to bring GH200 and a bottle of water to help mix the prescribed treatment," the prosecution explained.
According to the prosecutor, upon her arrival, Sumatu escorted the instructor to the hospital's blood bank and handed her a drink made of Vitamin C and paracetamol tablets.
The teacher inquired at the hospital after learning that doctors do not normally consult with patients in the blood bank.
The imposter then instructed the woman to return to the hospital the next day for treatment, during which time he would confirm the availability of the necessary drugs.
"On the scheduled day, Sumatu called the woman and assured her that the prescribed medications for her condition were available." "He asked her to bring GH200 and a bottle of water to help mix the prescribed treatment," according to the prosecution.
According to the prosecutor, Sumatu escorted the instructor to the hospital's blood bank and provided her a drink comprised of Vitamin C and paracetamol tablets upon her arrival.
After discovering that doctors do not generally consult with patients in the blood bank, the teacher enquired at the hospital.
