Filenews 11 May 2022 - by Fanis Makridis
A case of fraud for the sum of $300,000 centred in Cyprus and dealing with vaccines against the coronavirus, was reported to Interpol. The complaint was made against a doctor of Russian origin who is a Cypriot national and a permanent resident of our island, where he also practices medicine.
It is attributed to the latter that in May 2021, that is, a year earlier, he received a sum of $ 300,000 (about €285,000) to supply a Company of Cameroonian interests with 10,000 doses of a "Sputnik V" type vaccine. It is, as we all know, the vaccine manufactured in Russia.
However, the delivery of the vaccines, according to the complainants, has not yet been implemented. They argue at the same time that the doctor cited several reasons for not delivering the vaccination doses. At the same time - and always in accordance with what is being accused of him - he did not respond when asked to return the money, since he is unable to fulfil what was agreed.
All of the above positions of the complaining Cameroon company have been included in a complaint to Interpol that took place on March 21, 2021. In the relevant document obtained by "F", details of the initial agreement made between the two parties are also recorded, as well as the offences, which, based on the positions alleged, were committed by the doctor and his company.
Lawsuit in Cyprus
The case has also taken the path of Justice in Cyprus. In particular, in the past few months of this year, a lawsuit has been filed against the doctor in question and his company, for extorting money through false representations and fraud, as well as for conspiracy to defraud and unjust enrichment.
The plaintiff company from Cameroon, inter alia, is applying to the court:
• A statement and/or decision that the doctor and his company made false representations against the plaintiff to supply the latter with vaccines for $300,000.
• Decree by which the agreement between the two parties to be declared null and void from the outset.
• A statement and/or judgment that the defendants have enriched themselves unfairly at the expense of the plaintiff and that they are in possession of the obligation to rehabilitate by returning to the plaintiff the sum of $300,000.
• Special and general allowances.
For the army
The Russian-born doctor, through his Cypriot company, allegedly presented himself to a similar one in Cameroon, which in turn represented the government of the African country, and the doctor put forward the position that he could supply them with "Sputnik V" vaccines to contain the Covid-19 disease.
The company from Cameroon was asking for vaccines to deal with the pandemic and administer them in Cameroon territory including the country's military. After the doctor's company allegedly received $300,000 by bank transfer to an account at a Cyprus Bank as of May 2021, it was delayed in fulfilling the obligations it undertook, which raised reasonable suspicion among buyers. Eight months after the payment of the advance, the doctor allegedly declared inability to deliver the vaccines, but also refused to return the money. This was followed by legal measures in Cyprus (see action) in January.
Under the microscope of the PIS the doctor
Our information from a competent source indicates that the doctor is contracted with the GHS and is under the microscope of the Pancyprian Medical Association. About a year ago he was reportedly denounced by the medical services of the Ministry of Health to the PIS, for unfair treatment practices in patients.
The case is being examined by the ethics committee of the PIS, which after the preliminary investigation has appointed an investigating officer. Depending on the findings of the latter, it will be clarified whether the case will be forwarded to the Disciplinary Board of the Medical Association for further measures.
