Med student fined & deported over prescription fraud

| 24/12/2009

(CNS): John Michael Peirmatti, a 23-year-old medical student from the United States, was fined over three thousand dollars and was ordered to be deported from the Cayman Islands after he was found guilty of several offences relating to a prescription fraud investigation in Summary Court on Wednesday. Police from the financial crime unit said that prosecution came as a result of an investigation which began in October when police received reports of forged prescriptions being presented to pharmacists on the island.

The RCIPS said that extensive police enquiries were carried out and within a matter of days Peirmatti was arrested. He appeared in summary court yesterday, on three counts of making a document without authority and two counts of uttering a false document for which he received the fine of CI$3,250 and the deportation order.

Detective Inspector Betty Ebanks of the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit said the unit was pleased with the result. “This conviction came about as a result of a co-ordinated effort between the uniform section and the Financial Crimes Unit,” she said. “The commission of fraud on these islands will not be tolerated and we will pursue offenders vigorously. That’s what happened in this case and we are delighted to see that this investigation has led to a successful result at court. The message this sends out is clear offenders will be brought before the courts in Cayman and will be dealt with appropriately.”

 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Self prescribing pain killers is mild to what some of the so called doctors do. i know one woman who is definately hooked on pain killers but the slob she goes to prescribes the meds because he wants to have an affair with her and so she is using him, tagging him along so she can get the prescriptions. In the meantime he is obsessing over her and making a real fool of him self in front of friends! Believe me, this is a real life story guys. You see he fancies himself a good catch so he is busy freshing with pretty patients, giving what it takes to get them to come back, including pain killers, even if it hurts them. Sad eh?

  2. Watchman says:

    Pharmacists better watch out then. My friend gets his medication regularly without a prescription. That is going on for years especially if the pharmacist don’t want him business to leave.

  3. Anonymous says:

    LOL At first I started to read the comments on this story and I thought to myself, here they go bashing the poor police again, but then I read the actual story and LOL words like "co-ordinated effort" "pursue offenders" and "dealt with" jumped out at me.

    I then had to go back to the beginning of the story and confirm it,but yes we are talking about a simple case of forgery and a medical student prescribing medications for himself.

    I agree wrong is wrong, but comon now!!! We didnt solve a murder or even a robbery, but someone in the RCIPS feels this is worth bragging about ? OMG no wonder the real criminals are walking up to people and popping caps, with that type of menatility on the police force (someone who gets excited at a bust that should be credited to a pharmacist), its no small wonder.

    I bet my teenage daughter could have solved that one. Afterall it only required some basic evidence gathering, one statement from the recipient of the birth control pills, statements from the doctors, and oh yeah… the confession LOL LOL LOL LOL….

    "Detective Inspector Betty Ebanks of the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit said the unit was pleased with the result. “This conviction came about as a result of a co-ordinated effort between the uniform section and the Financial Crimes Unit,” she said. “The commission of fraud on these islands will not be tolerated and we will pursue offenders vigorously. That’s what happened in this case and we are delighted to see that this investigation has led to a successful result at court. The message this sends out is clear offenders will be brought before the courts in Cayman and will be dealt with appropriately.”"

     

  4. you said a mouthful says:

    Talking about going after the "lowhanging fruit"

    This guy is a real hardened criminal, if he forged the prescriptions for his own use he is a real danger to the community!

    it is perfectly understandable that the RCIPS would relegate month – sorry – years – old murder investigations to the holding pattern in order to pursue this public menace!

    Congratulations to the CI legal system! another important win, I feel so much safer now!

    I think everyone involved in the successful conclusion of this major case should be promoted by at least 2 pay-grades!

     

     

  5. Anonymous says:

    This doesn’t surprise me!  As a U.S. citizen, there have been numerous reports on our news that college students were taking medication intended for people with ‘attention deficit disorder.’ In addition, some of the most famous people in the U.S. have been convicted of forgery involving pharmacist. Yet, they tend become even more famous.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Most of West Bay can name a couple of recent murderers.  They just choose not to.

  7. Johnny Cake wid a cup of coffey(e) says:

    Catch the robbers and thives and murderers please.  Thanks for the catch…I bet it was an easy trail to follow…but sorry RCIPS no bells and whistles no champaign or clinging of the glasses yet.  The thieves are taking over out here.

    Help Inspector Betty Ebanks.  Can you guys in that unit offer some assistnace to the CID, USG, DTF and all the other units involved with catching thieves and murderers please.

  8. Anonymous says:

    did he plead guilty or not?

  9. Anonymous says:

    not the first time this has happened i bet

  10. Anonymous says:

    If it was a Jamaican or some other caribbean national they would a thrown the book at him. Northward wouldn’t miss him.

  11. au revoir says:

    A bit scant on the details methinks…