Doctor accused of $1.3m patient scam

An Auckland doctor has denied claims he ran a "sophisticated and skilful" scam that earned him $1.3 million in taxpayer money.

A depositions hearing in Auckland District Court was told yesterday that Hongsheng Kong, who practised in Panmure, allegedly falsified and manipulated patient records at his surgery in the Auckland suburb of Panmure.

He faces 24 charges of fraud and one of attempting to pervert the course of justice, The New Zealand Herald reported.

Ministry of Health prosecutor Mark Woolford alleged Kong tampered with records to make it appear he had more patients than he had and to show patients visited him when they did not.

One family moved to Australia in 2000 but records showed four patient transactions involving the family up to six years later.

David Landreth, a former detective now employed by the ministry, told the court he began investigating Kong early in 2007 and tried to find some of his patients

"Of the 16 I attempt to locate, I was not able to locate any."

Two addresses were for homes that did not exist as residential premises and one was a vacant car yard.

Kong's lawyer, Paul Davison QC, told the court his client "hotly contested" the allegations.

Proceeding.

- NZPA