Absconding quack gets 6-year jail term

The accused, M Mathias (46), who was running St Johns Social and Medical Service Trust in Boochiathipedu village near Red Hills, used to administer injections and prescribe medicines posing as an allopathy doctor, though he was only qualified in alternative medicine.

In 2014, the then drug inspector Bhavani initiated an inquiry based on a complaint. During inspection, the officials found a huge quantity of allopathy medicines without any valid licence.

A case was filed against Mathias in 2015 at the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Tiruvallur, but Mathias went into hiding since then. The case was recently taken over by R Chitra, drug inspector, Red Hills Range.

S Anitha, Additional Public Prosecutor, appeared in the case on behalf of the government. On Saturday, Chief Judicial Magistrate M Shirijha sentenced Mathias to six years of imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 6 lakh. A non-bailable warrant had already been issued against Mathias, said officials.