Fake Orthopedist Scams Belgrade Women Out of 12,720 Euros
Belgrade prosecutors are seeking pretrial detention for Bulgarian national D. H. (54), accused of posing as an orthopedist and swindling two Belgrade women out of 12,720 euros.
Belgrade’s First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office has ordered 48 hours of custody for a Bulgarian national identified as D. H. (54), suspected of posing as an orthopedist and swindling two women in Belgrade out of a total of 12,720 euros and 386,800 dinars. The custody order was issued in cooperation with the Interior Ministry (MUP), the Belgrade Police Directorate, and the Criminal Police Directorate’s (UKP) Department for Suppression of Property Crime.
According to the prosecution’s statement, the frauds took place between August 21 and September 5, in the Stari Grad and Novi Beograd municipalities. The suspect is believed to have worked together with an accomplice who has not yet been identified.
One of the victims, J. J., was told by the suspect, who introduced himself as a doctor, that her son’s life was in danger after a car accident. He asked her to hand over all the money she had so that her son could undergo surgery. She gave him 5,670 euros and 8,800 dinars outside the building where she lives.
The second victim, V. P., was told that her daughter had been severely injured and that an emergency operation would cost 52,000 euros. She handed 7,050 euros and 378,000 dinars to the suspect through the window of her apartment.
After collecting the money, the suspect left the scene. He is charged with the continuing criminal offense of fraud, under Article 208, paragraph 4, in relation to paragraph 1 and Article 33 of the Criminal Code.
D. H. was questioned as a suspect today, September 22, but chose not to present a defense. The prosecution has filed a motion with the duty judge of the Belgrade First Basic Court requesting his detention, citing the risk that the suspect, if left at large, would flee and obstruct the investigation. The motion relies on Article 211, paragraph 1, point 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In the preliminary proceedings, the prosecution says it will question the victims as witnesses and gather additional evidence to establish the full facts of the case.
This is not the first case of its kind in Belgrade this month. In early September, another fake doctor, E. L., was arrested on suspicion of fraud totaling around 60,000 euros. The pattern was similar: a phone call or direct contact, a fabricated injury to a close relative, and a demand for an urgent payment.
