A salesman who has been reported as 'posing as a doctor' at Mater Dei hospital today was cleared of all charges against him.

Pierre William Buontempo was charged with misappropriation of funds to the detriment of Charles Degiorgo Ltd and making illegal gains of around €100 to the detriment of the government of Malta.

The accused worked as a sales representative of Charles Degiorgo Ltd, which provided medical equipment for Vacuum Assisted Closure therapy at Mater Dei Hospital. Sales representatives are usually granted a day access card at the hospital; however for reasons unknown, Mr Bountempo was granted a permanent access card which declared that he was a consultant at the Tissue Viability Unit. 

Later he was granted an additional access card declaring he was a consultant at VAC and Maggot Therapy Unit, but he was asked to return the tag when it was verified that he was a sales representative and not a doctor. The man told the administration that he had graduated in Italy and that he needed the tag to gain experience.  Later he changed his statement, and claimed to have returned the card and signed an affidavit.

In the meantime, the accused was fired from Charles Degiorgio Ltd following reports of irregularities. The company alleged that their ex-employee had, whilst carrying out his duties at Mater Dei, claimed he was a doctor in order to be given free parking facilities, access cards to wards and a hepatitis injection for free and moreover kept some cash due to them for the maggot therapy provided.

The company said that Mr Buontempo had claimed to five patients that he was a doctor, graduated in pharmacology and was also a member of the forensic team within the police force. 

In court, Joanna Farrugia explained that her father underwent an amputation and was later recommended Maggot Therapy - for which Mrs Farrugia paid the accused €2,026 in cash and cheques. The cheques were deposited by Mr Buontempo's wife. Maggot therapy is the controlled, therapeutic use of maggots to treat skin and soft tissue wounds.

Another patient explained that she had paid Lm100 in cash to nursing officer Colette Crip - who later forwarded the money to Mr Buontempo. A third patient paid €346 to the accused.

When questioned, the accused told the police that he had started reading a pharmacology course in Italy, but never completed the course. He denied that the hospital had granted him an access card declaring him as a medical consultant, and that he had claimed to be part of the police forensic team. He admitted however to having benefitted from free vaccination. 

In its considerations, the court said that the therapy in question was paid for by the customer and that the accused was in between jobs when the act took place. Mr Buontempo was about to start working with Trebee Company Ltd, a competitor of Charles Degiorgio Ltd.

Charles Degiorgo Ltd had claimed that it was never aware that Mr Buontempo was selling their services; however it was never proven that the service was provided by the company, because no document was presented in court.

Mr Buontempo was cleared of all charges.

Inspector Jonathan Ferris led the prosecution.  Magistrate Audrey Demicoli presided.