Court confirms jail sentence for surgeon

Dubai: A court on Monday confirmed a two-month imprisonment against an American plastic surgeon who was found guilty of impersonating a top American doctor to Hollywood stars and practising medicine illegally in the UAE.

The Dubai Appeal Court's Presiding Judge Adnan Al Farra upheld the primary verdict (two months in jail) although the 40-year-old accused, S.G.M., pleaded not guilty and denied unlawfully practising medicine and impersonating the top American doctor Dr Steven B Hopping.

"The court has confirmed the primary judgment. The court will also confiscate the medical ID card which the accused used during the crime," said Presiding Judge Al Farra when he pronounced yesterday's judgment in courtroom 20.

‘Not guilty'

Last week, S.G.M. argued in court: "I am an American surgeon and these charges are based on incorrect accusations … I am not guilty."

The accused, who will be deported after serving his jail term, handed a written defence to court.

The surgeon appealed his primary conviction, for which he was sentenced to two months in jail followed by deportation.

The Dubai Misdemeanours Court had convicted him of unlawfully practising medicine and impersonating Dr Hopping.

He was also convicted of forging a labour card from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital that bore Hopping's name.

The court jailed him for practising medicine without obtaining proper permission from the Ministry of Health or adhering to required conditions.