Struck off after defrauding NHS (From News Shopper)

Struck off after defrauding NHS

9:44am Friday 23rd February 2007

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A DENTIST who defrauded the NHS out of thousands of pounds has been struck off.

Claude Stephen Kelfkens and his boss Mogjan Azari defrauded £40,700 from the NHS.

Working from Azari's clinics, Kelfkens claimed money for precious metal fillings from the NHS, including gold, when he had only fitted patients with cheaper, non-precious metal fillings.

He and Azari split the resulting £18,124 profit between them.

Kelfkens was struck off at a hearing at the General Dental Council, Wimpole Street, London.

Philip Kolvin, for the dental council, said: "This was systematic overpayment by Mr Kelfkens from the NHS.

"It is not in dispute there was over-claiming.

"And it is also not in dispute the over-claiming was inappropriate and it misled the NHS."

Azari, aged 41, of Oakwood Avenue, Beckenham, was jailed for a year and struck off the register in January 2005 after admitting four charges of obtaining money by deception.

She had allowed bogus dentist Omid Amidi-Mazaheri, an asylum seeker and also her lover, to treat more than 500 patients at her Tulse Hill and Norbury practices.

He left patients in agony and overcharged for his work, the hearing heard.

Detectives launched Operation Immanuel in 2003 after learning bogus claims for treatment were being filed from Azari's south London clinics in Brownhill Road, Catford; Norbury; Tulse Hill and Brixton.

Kelfkens was arrested following a raid on the Catford practice in April 2005.

Mr Kolvin said: "After 55 minutes of police questioning, there was a frank admission."

Kelfkens admitted obtaining a money transfer by deception to deceive the NHS and was formally cautioned.

The 47-year-old, of Uplands Close, Sevenoaks, has since paid back the defrauded cash plus the cost of the investigation, amounting to a total of £60,000.

Kelfkens, who did not attend the hearing, admitted a series of allegations against him relating to the false precious metal claims made in respect of 168 patients.

He admitted his actions were inappropriate but denied they were misleading or dishonest.

Committee chairman Margaret Gray said the dental council was satisfied the charges had been proved and found Kelfkens guilty of professional misconduct.

She said: "He appears to lack insight into the seriousness of the offences.

"The committee has determined erasure is the appropriate sanction in this case."

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