Disciplinary Committee adjourns ‘fraudulent vet’ inquiry in public interest

On Friday 18 April 2008, the RCVS Disciplinary Committee considered an allegation of ‘fraudulent registration’ but decided it was in the public interest to adjourn the proceedings.

It was alleged that in 2006, Mr Russell Lewis Oakes was registered as a veterinary surgeon, after the RCVS was presented with a forged veterinary degree certificate and a forged letter of good standing.

The RCVS reported Mr Oakes to the police earlier this year, after local veterinary surgeons brought the matter to the College’s attention. Following his arrest on 1 March, Mr Oakes is subject to ongoing police investigations, although he is currently released on bail – a condition of which being that he does not practise as a veterinary surgeon.

Due to the police investigation, full details of the RCVS charge against Mr Oakes have not been made public, although the charge was in the alternative: either (A) that Mr Oakes is guilty of a fraud against the RCVS; or (B) making no allegation against Mr Oakes, but stating that the registration was on the basis of forged documents.

Although Mr Oakes was not present at the hearing, his solicitors had made written representations on his behalf.

It was suggested to the Committee that the hearing should proceed on the basis of the lower charge (B) without consideration of whether Mr Oakes had acted fraudulently. Mr Oakes agreed with this approach. If the Committee had accepted this suggestion, it would have heard the allegation in private, due to the ongoing police investigation.

However, the Committee decided it was not in the public interest for the hearing to proceed in private, deciding that Mr Oakes should face the more serious RCVS charge and in public. This is now likely to be after the police investigation and any resulting prosecution.

Chairing the Committee, Mrs Alison Bruce said: “The bail conditions to which the Respondent is currently subjected, which include a condition that he will not undertake any acts of veterinary surgery, will serve to ensure that the public interest and the welfare of animals will be properly protected.”

The Disciplinary Committee asked that Mr Oakes’ bail conditions be monitored, advising that if they were varied or lifted, the adjourned hearing should be reinstated without delay.