The matter against bogus doctor Matthew Lani was not heard at the Johannesburg Magistrates Court as the NPA confirmed it was not placed on the roll. Visibly injured Matthew who wore a military green puffer jacket, used crutches as he was limping, had an injury on his lower lip and a plaster on his right arm.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that Matthew's matter was not placed on the court roll. "There's quite a number of investigations that the police need to conclude and bring the docket back to the NPA. We are not ready to make a decision because of what is contained in the docket. Our decision will be made public," she said. Mjonondwane explained that he was not charged and therefore could not be kept in police custody. "This is because the 48-hour mark to appear in court will be effective by Wednesday but still, investigations would not be concluded. There is also another pending matter in Tembisa which also needs the police to conclude investigations and once we receive a docket for that matter, both processes will run parallel," she said, referring to the identity theft case opened by Dr Sanele Zingelwa, whom Matthew is accused of impersonating.
Mjonondwane said the NPA is sitting with a problem of distinguishing between a person who is either lying or a person who could have committed an offence. "With misrepresentation, you would have to have a statement said by a person and a statement that could result in actual or potential prejudice, which could induce someone to take a certain action to their own potential or actual prejudice. If I say I am a doctor and you come to my purported surgery for treatment then we could say there's an alleged offence but then this could be someone just creating content."
Dumisani Mabunda ,Matthew's defence, said the state has no prima facie case against the accused. "We have wise prosecutors who looked at the docket and then concurred with us and indeed so there's no case and as a result, the charges have been withdrawn. However, there will be possible investigations and if there are new developments on the matter it will be reinstated. The accused is facing one count of impersonating a doctor but for now, charges have been dropped." he said. Matthew was arrested on Sunday evening at Helen Joseph Hospital after he was busted by security guards. Outside court, the visibly scared Matthew said, "No comment! because you guys are reporting one side of the story."
