Bogus NHS shrink convicted after lying about being psychiatrist and treating Scots patients
15.02.2023 - 20:51
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A bogus psychiatrist has been convicted of a "deliberate and wicked deception" after faking a medical degree certificate and working for a number of health trusts.
Zholia Alemi worked as a psychiatrist across the UK, including in Scotland, after claiming to have qualified at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, Manchester Crown Court was told. In 2019 we revealed that records were being reviewed of patients across Scotland who received treatment from the fake psychiatrist.
In one case, a man who was treated by Alemi at Ayr’s Ailsa Hospital in 2008, said her behaviour set alarm bells ringing and he raised concerns with health chiefs. But Alemi accused the man of being paranoid and even tried to get his daughter taken out of his care.
It also emerged that another of Alemi’s patient planned to sue NHS Ayrshire and Arran over their failure to check her qualifications. The patient claims he was put on powerful medication by Alemi while she worked at the hospital in Ayr.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran confirmed she was registered with the General Medical Council before employing her as a locum psychiatrist for 16 months in 2007 and 2008 and they apologised for any distress the situation had caused.
On Wednesday, she was told she faces a prison sentence "of some substantial length" after she was found guilty of 13 counts of fraud, three counts of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception, two counts of forgery and two counts of using a false instrument, following a four-week trial.
Judge Hilary Manley remanded Alemi in custody and told her she will be sentenced at the same court on February 28. Judge Manley told her: "There is only one possible sentence and that will be a sentence of immediate custody of some substantial length."
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