A Cape Town doctor who faced the possibility of being criminally charged for not submitting his income tax returns performed 12 free operations. 71- year-old orthopaedic surgeon Nisar Ahmed Moosa and his company allegedly failed to submit tax returns between 2009 and 2017.

The company was allegedly fined R15,000 which were suspended for five years on the condition that it does not contravene the Income Tax Act and the Tax Administration Act during the period of their suspension. It is alleged that the doctor and his company employed accountants who were tasked with submitting income tax returns on their behalf but failed to do so. However, the serious charges were withdrawn after the doctor completed a diversion programme.

As reported by Times Live, Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority (NPA ) in the Western Cape, said the programme required Moosa to perform 12 free operations on patients at Rondebosch Medical Centre. “These patients were selected from a waiting list of patients at Groote Schuur Hospital. These were ganglion and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis operations(Wrist surgeries),” Ntabazalila said.

The alleged cost of the operations was R300,780, which included theatre costs, nursing services, medication, surgeons and anaesthetists, which Moosa’s company paid for. In the meantime, the veteran doctor has employed external auditors and appointed a new accountant.

Picture: Cape Town Etc gallery

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