Doctor and nurse in cancer fraud

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7227337.stm

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A doctor and his nurse wife have been found guilty of a 731,000 euros fraud after falsely claiming she had breast cancer.

Dr Emad Massoud, 52, and wife Gehan, 45, from Ratoath, County Meath had insurance cover for serious illnesses.

They received the money from insurance companies in 2002 after successfully claiming Mrs Massoud had breast cancer.

Gardai began an investigation after an insurance company received a tip-off by phone and letter about the couple.

During the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lawyers for the couple admitted that a lumpectomy used to supply tissue to diagnose cancer was carried out by Dr Massoud, and not by another surgeon - who was a friend of the couple - as stated on the insurance claim forms.

The court also heard that Mrs Massoud's mother in Egypt had breast cancer at the time.

Bigger than scars

Experts gave evidence that the size of the breast sample was much bigger than scars on Mrs Massoud's breast, and that the sample's DNA did not match hers.

An expert also told the court that the sample had a "99.53% chance of paternity between the tissue donor and the woman".

The court also heard evidence from a doctor friend of the couple of seeing a glass pathology jar with a human tissue while visiting their house, a claim Dr Massoud denied in court.

The couple were convicted by jury after three hours' deliberation.

Dr Massoud, who is originally from Egypt, was remanded in custody, while his wife was remanded on continuing bail before sentencing next month.