Doctor in hot water
The rogue doctor driver is sought by the police to execute their arrest warrant.
A suspended Otjiwarongo doctor, under investigation for a reckless driving incident last week, is also being sought by the police for failing to appear before court in another case linked to a fatal car accident two years ago, and is further under investigation for alleged theft of and abuse of addictive drugs.
A warrant of arrest was reissued on Wednesday last week against Yevai Chiradza, who faces a charge of culpable homicide in a case linked to a car accident on 12 July 2015, which led to the deaths of three people.
Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi yesterday confirmed that the arrest warrant was sent to the Otjiwarongo police this week after Chiradza failed to appear before the Karibib Magistrate's Court on 7 and 8 March.
Chiradza had not been arrested by yesterday afternoon, but Kanguatjivi said an arrest was imminent.
Further, the reckless driving incident, captured on a video that went viral over the weekend, could lead to new charges being opened against Chiradza, Kanguatjivi said.
Drug allegations
After the video went viral on Friday, the ministry of health instructed Chiradza to take forced leave for an unspecified period of time.
“In reference to the video on social media and your previous incidents concerning substance abuse, this office is requesting you to take vacation leave for an unspecified period until further notice,” the letter stated.
Namibian Sun's sister newspaper, Republikein, on Wednesday quoted the Health Professions Council as saying the doctor was not facing any charges.
However, allegations of abuse of addictive drugs were being investigated.
Cornelius Weyulu, the registrar and chief executive officer of the council, informed Republikein that the matter was being investigated by the Health Assessment Committee in terms of section 48 of the Medical and Dental Act and Regulations relating to Impaired Registered Persons.
Weyulu added that while the investigation was continuing, “measures were put in place to curb the practitioner's access to the addictive drugs that were reported to the Council.”
He said Chiradza had been restricted from prescribing pethidine and other opioids pending the finalisation of the investigation.
Weyulu further noted that Chiradza's employer, the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, was investigating a case of theft of drugs and the Health Professions Council was awaiting the finalisation of that investigation.
If found guilty of any offence, Weyulu explained, “there are structures in term of the law that deal with investigations and the law prescribes a number of penalties that may be imposed in the event a practitioner is found guilty of misconduct. Penalties are removal from the register, suspension for a period of time, waiving or payment of a prescribed fee.”
Deadly accident
Konrad Louw, Welmine Louw and Aletta Junius died in the accident that happened on the Karibib-Usakos road on 12 July 2015.
According to an accident report, a witness told police that Chiradza's car drove into their lane from the opposite direction, forcing them off the road and hitting the back end of their car.
In the same police report, Chiradza claimed he was driving between Karibib and Usakos when his front right tyre burst, resulting in him losing control of his vehicle and sideswiping two oncoming vehicles.
Two survivors, Johan Junius and Sonja Junius, suffered minor to serious injuries.
STAFF REPORTER
A warrant of arrest was reissued on Wednesday last week against Yevai Chiradza, who faces a charge of culpable homicide in a case linked to a car accident on 12 July 2015, which led to the deaths of three people.
Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi yesterday confirmed that the arrest warrant was sent to the Otjiwarongo police this week after Chiradza failed to appear before the Karibib Magistrate's Court on 7 and 8 March.
Chiradza had not been arrested by yesterday afternoon, but Kanguatjivi said an arrest was imminent.
Further, the reckless driving incident, captured on a video that went viral over the weekend, could lead to new charges being opened against Chiradza, Kanguatjivi said.
Drug allegations
After the video went viral on Friday, the ministry of health instructed Chiradza to take forced leave for an unspecified period of time.
“In reference to the video on social media and your previous incidents concerning substance abuse, this office is requesting you to take vacation leave for an unspecified period until further notice,” the letter stated.
Namibian Sun's sister newspaper, Republikein, on Wednesday quoted the Health Professions Council as saying the doctor was not facing any charges.
However, allegations of abuse of addictive drugs were being investigated.
Cornelius Weyulu, the registrar and chief executive officer of the council, informed Republikein that the matter was being investigated by the Health Assessment Committee in terms of section 48 of the Medical and Dental Act and Regulations relating to Impaired Registered Persons.
Weyulu added that while the investigation was continuing, “measures were put in place to curb the practitioner's access to the addictive drugs that were reported to the Council.”
He said Chiradza had been restricted from prescribing pethidine and other opioids pending the finalisation of the investigation.
Weyulu further noted that Chiradza's employer, the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, was investigating a case of theft of drugs and the Health Professions Council was awaiting the finalisation of that investigation.
If found guilty of any offence, Weyulu explained, “there are structures in term of the law that deal with investigations and the law prescribes a number of penalties that may be imposed in the event a practitioner is found guilty of misconduct. Penalties are removal from the register, suspension for a period of time, waiving or payment of a prescribed fee.”
Deadly accident
Konrad Louw, Welmine Louw and Aletta Junius died in the accident that happened on the Karibib-Usakos road on 12 July 2015.
According to an accident report, a witness told police that Chiradza's car drove into their lane from the opposite direction, forcing them off the road and hitting the back end of their car.
In the same police report, Chiradza claimed he was driving between Karibib and Usakos when his front right tyre burst, resulting in him losing control of his vehicle and sideswiping two oncoming vehicles.
Two survivors, Johan Junius and Sonja Junius, suffered minor to serious injuries.
STAFF REPORTER
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