Dr. Bert Wolfgang Kirsten, a Cape Town-based doctor, has been sentenced by the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to selling and distributing illegal scheduled medicines worth approximately R5 million. The case was investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks.
According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, the investigation was carried out by the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (Saneb). Kirsten was found guilty of 1,198 counts of selling scheduled medicine and 570 counts of money laundering, under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca). The charges stem from an operation in October 2018 when authorities seized a large quantity of scheduled medicines as part of a probe into an international drug distribution network.
Kirsten and his wife, Shelly, were arrested at the Kenilworth Post Office while Kirsten attempted to mail envelopes containing the illegal substances destined for the United States. Both were initially charged under the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, along with the Drug and Drug Trafficking Act. They were granted bail, with Kirsten’s set at R80,000 and Shelly’s at R20,000. However, the State later withdrew all charges against his wife.
In sentencing, the court handed down the following penalties to Dr. Kirsten:
For selling and distributing scheduled medicines (counts 1-1,198), Kirsten received a sentence of eight years in prison, which was wholly suspended for five years, provided he does not commit the same offence during the suspension period.
For money laundering (counts 2,261-2,830), he was sentenced to six years, also wholly suspended for five years, under the same condition.
In addition, Kirsten was sentenced to three years of house arrest.
Finally, the court ordered Kirsten to pay R5 million into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account, aimed at recovering the proceeds of his criminal activities.