Ghizlane Jabrane, Parthivkumar Patel in court after siphoning $30k from hospital following elaborate fake patient scam

An Adelaide interpreter was “inveigled” into an elaborate scam by an obsessive hospital staffer who displayed an “undying devotion” to “secure her affection and love”, a court has heard.

An interpreter based at an Adelaide hospital was coerced into an elaborate $30,000 scam by an obsessive staffer who displayed an “undying devotion” to “secure her affection and love”, a court has heard.

Parthivkumar Kanubhai Patel, 41, was the “instigator” of an elaborate nine-month-long plot to “buy the love” of Ghizlane Jabrane, 36, of Nailsworth – arranging fake meetings with made-up patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital from July 2021 to March 2022 so she, in return, could be paid for providing interpreting services.

He pleaded guilty to nine counts of abuse of public office, while his co-accused Jabrane pleaded guilty to three counts of the same offence.

Jabrane was, as her defence counsel Paul D’Angelo told the court on Wednesday, “inveigled into offending” by Patel, who even converted to Islam – from Hinduism – so it would “make it easier for her to marry him”.

Parthivkumar Patel leaving court. Picture: Brett Hartwig

His co-accused Ghizlane Jabrane. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“My client was drawn into the offending in highly unusual circumstances,” Mr D’Angelo told Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal.

“At the very beginning, her involvement was … innocent but it is conceded that, after some time, she fell into a trap where she was complicit.

“She met the co-accused at a time when her self esteem was low – the shame of a failed marriage, being unable to look after her children without her mother’s assistance … He showered her with personal gifts including perfume and other things, and she says that she felt special – which she had not done for a considerable time.

“A month after her birthday, my client received a phone call from (Patel’s) wife in which she told them that she was aware he had commenced a relationship with her. This was the first time she tried to stop the relationship and it was also the first time that he self-harmed.

“I’m instructed that he would not accept the rejection, and he cut his wrist with a broken piece of glass and sent pictures by text.”

Mr D’Angelo further submitted that, some months later, Patel, of Richmond, “pleaded” with Jabrane to marry him – which she refused.

“He wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Mr D’Angelo said. “She told him it was over and the following day she described how he stood in the driveway of her home – while her mother was inside the house – and while she was inside, cut his wrist.

“I’m instructed it regularly occupied her mind of how she could put an end to it – but putting an end to it exposed her disgrace”.

Both Patel and Jabrane – who have since repaid the money they siphoned – will return to court next month.

Originally published as Ghizlane Jabrane, Parthivkumar Patel in court after siphoning $30k from hospital following elaborate fake patient scam