Syrian Doctor Jailed for Massive Medical Fraud and Patient Assault in Germany

A Nuremberg-Fürth court has sentenced Syrian doctor Hasan O. to six years in prison for large-scale billing fraud and sexual assault. The 52-year-old was found guilty of fabricating thousands of house calls and overcharging for medical services. Despite the conviction, he avoided a professional ban but must repay over €1.4 million in fraudulent claims.

Hasan O. first came under investigation in early 2021 after patients raised concerns about his billing practices. Authorities later discovered he had falsely recorded 6,368 house calls over 13 quarters, fraudulently billing the state over €1.6 million. Some patients were allegedly seen up to five times a day, while visits to his mistress were logged as medical appointments.

The doctor also exploited pandemic measures by claiming excessive fees for COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, he billed Bavaria for renting a property to 25 asylum seekers. His fraud scheme unravelled in March 2021, leading to his pretrial detention.

During the trial, Hasan O. denied sexually assaulting a patient during a February 2021 house call. He expressed fear for his family's safety in Syria if convicted. His defence argued that he had performed treatments but lacked proper billing knowledge. Prosecutors, however, proved he had systematically defrauded public funds while committing sexual misconduct.

The case aligns with broader trends in Bavaria, where state prosecutors in Munich and Nuremberg reported 12 doctors convicted of billing fraud and eight for sexual harassment in the medical field between 2021 and 2025.

The court ordered Hasan O. to repay €1.4 million but allowed him to keep his medical licence. His six-year sentence reflects the severity of both financial fraud and patient abuse. The ruling follows a pattern of similar convictions in Bavaria's healthcare sector in recent years.