Adelaide surgeon charged with 25 counts of deceit over ‘fraudulent’ timesheets after ICAC investigation

A surgeon accused of scamming tens of thousands of dollars has become the first high-profile arrest amid increased scrutiny of SA Health.

A surgeon has been charged with 25 counts of deception after he allegedly claimed more than $65,000 for surgery he allegedly did not perform.

On Tuesday, only hours after a request from The Advertiser for confirmation about the investigation, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption announced a 56-year-old Kingswood man had been arrested.

The Director of Public Prosecutions will allege the surgeon filled out false time sheets on 25 different occasions between June 25, 2017 and April 27, 2018.

The surgeon allegedly deceived SA Health by submitting timesheets which falsely claimed he had been recalled to the hospital to perform surgery.

It will also be alleged the surgeon had no involvement in many of the procedures and on others merely provided advice to junior colleagues.

In some cases, he claimed for surgeries performed during normal working hours and for which he was already being paid.

In all but one instance it is alleged that the surgeon signed and verified the time sheets himself.

The surgeon was employed by SA Health in a senior role at a metropolitan hospital.

However, SA Health confirmed that he has since left the employment of the organisation. The man has been summonsed to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court in June.

The surgeon is the first high profile arrest to come out of increased scrutiny of SA Health.

Former ICAC Bruce Lander QC. Picture: David Mariuz

Former Commissioner Bruce Lander QC tabled a highly critical report into the state’s $6 billion health care system in state parliament in December, 2019.

The report, titled ‘Troubling Ambiguity: Governance of SA Health’ outlined “several areas of concern” that Mr Lander said “contributed to the risks of misconduct and maladministration in SA Health”.

Allegations in the 66-page report included highly-paid specialists falsely claiming against taxpayers or signing off their own timesheets, public funds being held in private bank accounts, undeclared conflicts of interests, poor records and blundering of clinical trials.

Mr Lander also labelled SA Health “rife for corruption” and confirmed that he was undertaking multiple criminal investigations into matters including maladministration.

Since assuming the role Commissioner Ann Vanstone QC has not made any public comments about SA Health