Fake doctor who forged qualifications to practice in NHS jailed

A woman who forged foreign university and medical certificates in order to practice in healthboards across the UK has been jailed for seven years.

Zholia Alemi, from Burnley, was found guilty earlier this month of three counts of fraud, two counts of forgery, three counts of deception and two counts of using material to falsify medical qualifications at Manchester Crown Court.

Over a 20-year period, Alemi worked as a NHS psychiatrist in hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland, earning income more than £1m.

She never held the medical qualifications necessary to undertake these roles, though.

She was discovered after Cumbria Police found evidence to prove that Alemi forged her medical qualifications at the University of Auckland to gain entry to the General Medical Council register.

In reality, Alemi had dropped out of her university course after the first year.

She was able to get jobs in various hospitals across the UK as a result.

Alemi joined the medical register in the UK under a section of the Medical Act which has not been used since 2003. The section allowed graduates of medical schools in certain Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand, to obtain registration based on a qualification in their originating country.

As a result, Alemi did not have to sit and pass the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exam, an assessment of skills which is usually required of doctors who qualified abroad.

DSI Matt Scott who led the investigation in Alemi said:

"My first thoughts were how are we going to manage this. We've got 23 years to go back, hundreds and hundreds of healthboards, a global investigation with enquiries all across the planet. Where do we start?

"I've never seen a case like this before in my entire career and I don't know anyone else that has. A lot of work was done checking similar doctors who came into the country in a similar path and as far as we can see this is an isolated case.

"The credit comes down to a dedicated team of detectives who were set strict parameters and investigation strategies on what to do.

"But it's not over yet, the next stage in this investigation is proceeds of crime. Our intention now, with partners, is to make sure as much of the money she has acquired fraudulently is taken back off her."

When discussing how this might impact patients who were treated by Alemi, he said: "I entirely understand people's concerns. If you go to a doctor you expect them to be qualified and know exactly what they're talking about, so I entirely empathise with those people. What I would advise though is if you do have concerns to contact NHS England and to have those cases reviewed."

Una Lane, Director of Registration and Revalidation at the GMC, said:

"We are very sorry that Zholia Alemi was able to join our medical register in the 1990s, based on fraudulent documentation, and for any risk arising to patients as a result.

"Our processes are far stronger now, with rigorous testing in place to make sure those joining the register are fit to work in the UK.

"It is clear that in this case the steps taken almost three decades ago were inadequate. We are confident that, 27 years on, our systems are robust.

"Patients deserve good care from appropriately qualified professionals and place a great deal of trust in doctors. To exploit that trust and the respected name of the profession is abhorrent."

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