Coronavirus: Doctor in fake vaccination certificate case to stand trial (updated)

A 53-year-old Larnaca doctor suspected of issuing fake coronavirus vaccination certificates was referred on Tuesday for trial before the Larnaca criminal court.

The trial is set to start on January 18.

The cardiologist faces charges including conspiracy to defraud, drafting and circulating a fake official document, and submitting information under false pretenses.

The doctor appeared before Larnaca district court on Tuesday which ordered that the 53-year-old hand over all his travel documents, that his name is put on the stop list and that he sign a €50,000 guarantee.

The suspect was arrested in August and was remanded in custody twice before he was released pending a police investigation.

He was arrested after the family of a 41-year-old filed a police complaint that he had been issued a fake vaccination certificate.

The man’s father said he was informed that his son, who later died from coronavirus, had admitted to medical and nursing staff at the hospital that he had obtained the fake document and issued by his GP.

After checks, it was found that the 41-year-old was registered in the Gesy system as having received the vaccine, which was administered by the suspect.

A nurse told police she had asked the man whether he had received the jab before he was intubated.

Another man allegedly issued with a fake vaccination certificate has also died.

The doctor denies the charges. He is listed as having administered coronavirus vaccines to 102 people, 47 of whom gave statements to the police.