A 27-year-old woman who worked as a radiographer, allegedly without the necessary qualifications, has roped in prominent Nelson Mandela Bay defence attorney Peter Daubermann.
Asisipho Mbekela, who hails from Mthatha, claims that she graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in 2016.
However, the State alleges that she lied about her qualification and failed dismally.
The matter was postponed in the Port Elizabeth Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday after the court heard that Mbekela's previous lawyer withdrew from the case after learning that Daubermann had been instructed to take over the defence.
Mbekela stands accused of misleading the Eastern Cape Health Department about obtaining her diploma in Nuclear Medicine Radiology.
Two witnesses previously detailed her academic progress, highlighting that she failed dismally and only passed one of her four final-year subjects in 2015.
State Prosecutor, Clint Jacobs, also asked the court that the State no longer cover Mbekela's travel and accommodation costs during the trial.
He said it is evident that she can afford to cover her own costs, seeing as she can afford an attorney like Daubermann.
Mbekela was provisionally excused from proceedings on Monday and her trial postponed until the 13th of October.
Daubermann became a household name when he represented the two co-accused in the murder trial of local school teacher Jayde Panayiotou.
He is also currently defending the controversial Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso who is facing 90 charges that include rape, human trafficking and racketeering.
