Med school hopeful accused of ‘elaborate fraud’

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Published May 6, 2016

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Durban - A University of KwaZulu-Natal medical school hopeful has been accused of committing an “elaborate fraud” in order to get one of the sought-after positions to study to become a doctor.

In an affidavit filed with the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Thursday, Suvanie Chetty, a principal academic administrative officer, says: “We do not make this allegation lightly. The nub of the matter is the alleged offer (of a position) was never made… the SMSes and other alleged correspondence were false, fraudulent and criminal.”

Chetty was opposing an urgent application launched by Timira Dayanand, 19, of Pietermaritzburg, in which she is seeking an order compelling the university to register her for the doctor’s degree this year.

She alleges that she applied for and was admitted as a “mature student” to begin the course but when she went to register was turned away.

When she made inquiries at the student academic office, the status of her application on the computer changed from “accepted” to “unsuccessful” before her eyes, “without notice or due process”.

Dayanand, in her affidavit, said she did not get a place in the medical school based on her 2013 matric results and instead studied medicine in Mauritius for a year.

After making another application to UKZN in 2014, she was advised to do a Bachelor of Science degree in 2015 after which there would be a possibility of joining the medical faculty as a mature student.

She duly did this, applied again during the course of last year and, she claims, was informed that she had been successful.

After paying the necessary fees she received “what seems like an automated letter” in September, confirming this and, in October, another letter setting out registration details.

When she went to register, she was told “the paperwork was incorrect” and, when she went to the student academic office to make further inquiries, she claims she saw her status change on the computer.

At one stage she was told she could register again for her Bachelor of Science degree, but later was told she could not register at all until a forensic investigation was finalised.

She said the university had “not proffered any reason as to why it refuses to allow me to register nor has it set in motion any lawful process to justify this”.

Chetty, in opposing the application, said investigations proved – and Dayanand was aware of this – that the SMSes she received had not come from the university. Stamps on documents were false and letters – one recommending that Dayanand be given a position because she was a “deserving student” – which purported to have her (Chetty’s) title, name and signature had not been authored or signed by her.

Even the computer screen shot showing “accepted” – which forms part of the court papers – was a misrepresentation of the facts.

On top of this, Chetty said, Dayanand could never be admitted to medical school because she had already studied in Mauritius and there was a “no transfer” rule.

The matter was adjourned on Thursday for Dayanand to file a replying affidavit.

Representing Dayanand, Shalina Naidoo, of Sinanin Naidoo Attorneys, said her client denied the allegations contained in the answering affidavit.

She said after numerous attempts (close to four months) to amicably resolve the issue with the respondent (UKZN), Dayanand had no choice but to approach the matter legally.

“The respondent filed an answering affidavit to which the applicant (Dayanand) intends responding to in due course.”

Naidoo said Dayanand insisted she had met all criteria for admission to the medicine programme and a formal application was lodged, acceptance documentation was received and the initial fee deposit was accepted by UKZN. “At no time was there a problem or a call for concern. The applicant was only informed on the morning of January 11, 2016 that a problem existed.”

She said Dayanand “enlisted the services of a fully fledged professional team to address these alarming concerns”.

* Earlier this year Durban’s Chavara Naidoo made an unsuccessful court application for an order that she be admitted to the medical school on the basis of her straight-A 2014 matric results, ignoring her academic record from the University of Cape Town where she had studied for six months.

The university said Naidoo had withheld the fact that she had studied at another university, presenting herself as a first-time student.

She was precluded from being considered a mature student because she had not completed a full year at UCT, and also because of the “no transfer” rule.

Acting Judge Andrea Gabriel dismissed that application without giving reasons.

The Mercury

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