A doctor who made false witness statements for personal injury claimants every 15 minutes has been struck off by the Court of Appeal.
In General Medical Council & Ors v Zafar Lord Justice Davis ruled that Dr Asef Zafar developed a system – ‘remarkably’ – to examine clients and write a report within 15 minutes. It is understood that he had produced 5,000 reports a year, generating a gross annual income of £350,000 which lasted for 12 years. The judge said,
“Quite how he was able to fit all this around his NHS responsibilities is not clear”.
Zafar has been sentenced to six months in prison, and suspended for two years. The Court of Appeal indicated the sentence should probably have been 12 months and was unduly lenient, but said its judgment could only be used as guidance. The doctor’s sentence was not increased.
Meanwhile, proceedings had commenced against Zafar in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal and came before a hearing last May. The reported decision of the Court of Appeal was not put before the tribunal, which was presented with only with the initial fraud judgment.
