H-Metro
Zvikomborero Parafini
A LANCET Clinical Laboratories employee has been dragged to court after he allegedly defrauded the company of over US$5000 in unpaid tests.
He is accused of having converted the money to his own use.
Witness Muuya, 46, who is employed as a laboratory scientist, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda.
The complainant is Lancet Clinical Laboratories, being represented by its laboratory manager, Shingai Chikutye.
The court heard that the laboratory operates a courier system, whereby blood samples are collected from different hospitals and doctors’ rooms, and delivered to its facility.
Upon delivery, the data capturing team assesses a request form, with Lancet letterheads, patient details and samples.
Allegations are that between January and March 18 this year, Muuya received samples from 200 patients for testing.
He processed them using company equipment.
The samples were not captured into the system and no payment was received by Lancet.
The court heard that, to cover up the offence, Muuya would erase the information of the samples run without barcodes, from the system and omit to back up the information, on the compact discs.
The offence came to light when Tendai Maboreke, a pathologist with Lancet, received an anonymous phone call alerting him that Muuya was using laboratory equipment for his benefit.
A police report was made leading to his arrest.
The company lost US$5000.
Anesu Chirenje appeared for the State.
