Doctor and business partner fined RM95,000 for offering illegal ambulatory services

JOHOR BARU: Two women operating a beauty centre, one of whom is a doctor, were fined a total of RM95,000 by the Sessions Court here for providing unlicenced ambulatory services and aesthetic surgery.

The accused, Dr Suzana Hasnan, 52, and Eng Kwi Lah, 54, were found guilty of committing the offence on Sept 3, 2015 at about 12.45pm at their business premises at Jalan Molek 1/5A in Taman Molek here.

Ambulatory care is medical care provided on outpatient basis that covers diagnosis, observation, consultation, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitation services.

They were charged under Paragraph 3(c) of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), which is punishable under sub-paragraph 5(2)(aa) of the same act.

Both pleaded guilty to the charge, which carries a jail sentence of up to six years or a fine not more than RM300,000 or both.

In another charge, the beauty centre company was also charged for providing ambulatory care without a valid licence from the Health Ministry.

The company was charged under the same Act, punishable under sub-paragraph 5(1)(b)(i), which carries a fine of up to RM500,000.

For the first charge, judge Mohammad Khalid Ab Karim slapped Dr Suzana and Eng with a fine of RM25,000 each or in default, six months imprisonment while the company, operated by the duo, would have to pay a fine of RM45,000.

DPP Nurul Khairiyah Samsudin prosecuted the case while the accused were represented by lawyer Lim Chon Sin.