Doctor busted for mailing pills
SEIZE: The meds belonging to Dr Bert Wolfgang Kirsten SEIZE: The meds belonging to Dr Bert Wolfgang Kirsten
A Kenilworth doctor and his wife appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Friday after they were allegedly found with schedule medications worth R1 million last week.
Dr. Bert Wolfgang Kirsten, 62, and wife, Shelley Ann, 54, were nabbed during a sting operation by the Hawks on Wednesday where he was caught trying to post prescription drugs to overseas clients.
Hawks spokesman, Captain Philani Nkwalase, says the operation was led by the Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (Saneb) along with Wynberg cops, and Bert was caught red-handed at the post office in Kenilworth.
“The doctor went to the post office in Kenilworth and was caught in the act of trying to send envelopes containing schedule medicines to America,” says Nkwalase.
“The preliminary investigation led to a search and seizure at suspect’s home in Kenilworth where officers (arrested his wife) and found more medication and documentation of order trails for countries including America, the UK and Sweden.”
They also took his larney Audi A7 because it was used in the commission of a crime.
The couple made their first court appearance on Friday where they face charges of contravening the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act and the Drug Trafficking Act.
Bert was granted R80 000 bail and Shelley Ann was released on bail of R20 000.
The couple is due back in court on 8 February.
“We can indicate he is a qualified doctor but it is not clear whether he is practising. The medication found was mostly schedule 4 and 5 for which the patient needs a prescription and needs to be monitored by a doctor,” Nkwalase added.