THERE was drama outside the Middelburg regional court yesterday when five of the six alleged bogus doctors charged with fraud and corruption were re-arrested as they left the court room

Earlier in court it was announced that the lawyer for the accused had withdrawn from the case and the case was postponed.

As they were leaving the courtroom with their new legal representatives, they were confronted by a Home Affairs department official accompanied by police officers.

The men were quickly taken into the court's holding cells and later to the local police station where they are being held for entering the country illegally.

Friends and relatives, who waited for them outside the courtroom, were surprised to see them escorted away by police.

Two of the accused, Akiloye Olubayo Eweoye, 42, and Rasheed Olawale Aremu, 42, who are reportedly qualified medical practitioners, are facing charges of fraud and corruption.

Additional charges of impersonating a medical practitioner and indecent assault for treating patients and providing them with medication, were levelled against Daniele Monde, 42, Okafor Chukhlumeka, 42, and Valentine Chike Ezulu, 34, and Baladale Olutu.

With the exception of Monde, who has allegedly skipped bail and is believed to have left the country, the rest appeared before magistrate Mark Botha and their case was postponed to May 17 for clarity on the question of their legal representation.

The accused brought a new lawyer saying Marius van Huyssteen, their attorney, had withdrawn from the case. Botha issued an order that Van Huyssteen should personally come and address the court on the alleged withdrawal.

During his bail application last month, Monde allegedly submitted a copy of a doctor's certificate, claiming that he qualified at the University of Zambia in Lusaka. The court granted him bail but insisted that he should bring the original certificate at his next court appearance.

According to the investigating team, Monde only reported to the Siyabuswa police station on two occasions as part of the bail conditions.

The team searched for him without any success and visited KwaNdebele Science High School in Siyabuswa and discovered that his three children did not return for the second term.