Indian-origin man fined 30,000 dollars for impersonating doctor in Australia
Melbourne: A 41 year old Indian origin man, accused of impersonating a British-Indian doctor and working in various hospitals for more than a decade in Australia, was fined with the maximum penalty of 30,000 dollars for the "most serious level" offence.
Shyam Acharya, who posed as Sarang Chitale, a rheumatologist in the UK, came to Australia in 2003 and worked with New South Wales (NSW) Health.
Chitale, who works at Leigh Infirmary near Manchester, was "shocked" after he came to know that Acharya has stolen his identity.
Acharya was also able to gain citizenship, an Australian passport and property, all in Chitale's name. He worked for NSW Health as a junior doctor from 2003 to May 2014 at four hospitals in Australia.
Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court magistrate Jennifer Atkinson found the offence was of the "most serious level and warranted the maximum penalty of a 30,000 dollars fine." She also ordered Acharya to pay the prosecution costs of more than 22,000 dollars, local media reported.
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