September 29, 2011
A former member of Serbia's secret service has been jailed for posing as a psychologist in Melbourne.
Dusan Milosevic was paid more than $1 million by government agencies, including the Transport Accident Commission and WorkSafe, for his services between 1998 and 2009.
The 48-year-old conducted more than 7,000 consultations before being exposed as a fake.
Victorian County Court Judge Liz Gaynor said Milosevic provided false documents purporting to be from the University of Belgrade to register as a psychologist in NSW and Victoria.
He was then employed by WorkSafe and the TAC to counsel people injured in car accidents and in the workplace, treating 29 clients without being qualified to do so.
Judge Gaynor said psychologists had a significant responsibility towards clients who would divulge personal information, and Milosevic had exploited vulnerable patients and shown no remorse.
"The potential for harm in such professional relationships is great, hence the need for regulations," she said.
Milosevic's actions "struck at the heart of an institution designed to protect the community" and were a "serious and flagrant breach", she said.
Milosevic worked for former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic's secret police before migrating to Australia in 1996.
He was sentenced to five years and two months in jail and ordered to serve two-and-a-half years before becoming eligible for parole.
Milosevic had pleaded not guilty to two charges of using a false document, one count of obtaining advantage by deception, and 29 of obtaining property by deception.
ABC/AAP
1 comment:
When will these government departments be held responsible for hiring these morons in the first place?
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