A 32-year-old man who masqueraded as a doctor and stole a mobile phone from a bed-ridden patient at Thika hospital was on Friday 13 arraigned before court and fined Sh35,000 or serve 21 months in default. Appearing before the Thika resident magistrate Esther Mburu, Francis kimani was charged that on September 17 last year, he stole a mobile phone worth Sh5,000 from Antony Njui, who was an in-patient in the wards. Prosecutor Kenneth Ngatia told the court how the accused walked into the hospital and while pretending to be a doctor doing ward rounds, went to “examine” Njui, an accident victim who had multiple fractures on both legs and hands, and in the process stole his mobile phone. The patient, who was in a lot of pain, could not raise an alarm then but informed hospital guards the next day who arrested and took him to Makongeni police station. He was found in possession of the phone and an assortment of other personal effects belonging to various patients. He pleaded guilty, but could not raise the fine and was therefore whisked away to start his 21-month jail sentence. Various patients interviewed in the wards said that the man was a common figure in the hospital and he is normally very smartly dressed and always introduces himself as a doctor. Contacted for comment, the medical superintendent Dr Jonah Maina agreed that he was aware of the unfortunate security lapse and has directed the hospital security to intensify their ward rounds to get rid of evil minded people from the hospital.

Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa