[imagesource:facebook/asisiphombekela]

A bogus radiographer, who worked at Livingstone Hospital in Gqeberha for almost a year before her bogus qualifications were discovered has been handed an unusual sentence in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Gqeberha.

The ‘periodical sentence’ of 2,000 hours behind bars is only eligible for weekends and means that Asisipho Mbekela will have to report to prison every Friday afternoon and then remain incarcerated until Sunday afternoons. She will spend about 36 hours in prison each weekend.

The unusual sentence handed down to the 27-year-old is allowed for in law, and as in this case, is reserved for mothers who have infants in their care. The trail had been dragging for almost five years now and in the meantime, Mbekela gave birth to a son.

In the interest of the child, Magistrate Lionel Lindoor decided on the periodical sentence for Mbeleka to care for her son during the week. It will take her about 14 months to complete her sentence.

“It is the least disruptive method for the child, and it is in the best interest of the child.”

The former Cape Peninsula University of Technology student was found out when she attended her 2016 graduation ceremony despite not qualifying to graduate. Mbekela failed three of her four modules and faked documentation to fool everyone into thinking she was on the graduation list.

Unfortunately for her, an attentive professor at the graduation ceremony recognised her and informed officials that Mbekela did not qualify to graduate.

Nevertheless, Mbeleka managed to work for almost a year at Livingstone Hospital before her con was discovered.

Her ‘convenient’ sentence will begin on 17 November 2023.

[source:news24]