Dubious distinction for ‘doctor’

NST: PUTRAJAYA: Indian national Surinder Pal, 34, has the dubious distinction of being the first foreign bogus doctor to be convicted and jailed for abusing his work permit.
Surinder was charged at the Semenyih detention centre’s special Immigration court yesterday. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five months’ jail, commencing from the date of his arrest on Aug 11.
He was charged under Section 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for contravening his employment pass. The offence carries a maximum penalty of a fine not exceeding RM1,000, or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
Immigration authorities found that Surinder did not have any valid qualifications to be a doctor and that he was not registered with the Malay- sian Medical Association.
Immigration deputy assistant director Kasthuri Bai Venugopal, who was also the prosecuting officer, asked the court for a deterrent sentence given the seriousness of the offence and its implications on the public as he was an unqualified doctor.
Surinder was arrested while treating a patient at Klinik Amar, 13G Jalan Orkid 1A, Section BS2, Bukit Sentosa, Rawang, Selangor, at 7pm.
He had been issued an employment pass to work at Edaran Anggun Sdn Bhd, a company in Taman Selatan Klang, as a technical director.
Immigration officers found documents, including salary vouchers, which showed that Surinder had been on the clinic’s payroll since March, and was earning RM25 per hour.
Also arrested was a Malaysian man, believed to be the owner of the clinic.
Immigration enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohamed said investigations on the local man were nearing completion and he would be charged soon with employing foreigners without approval.