A Uganda born doctor has been charged in Canada with allegations of trafficking fentanyl, a powerful prescription drug, according to reports in the Canadian media.
Fentanyl is a highly potent said to be 100 times stronger than morphine. It’s elicit use has been blamed for a rising number of deaths in Canada.
Dr George Otto, originally from Adilang in Agago district, is a resident of Richmond Hill, Ontario with a practice in Toronto.
Dr Otto is a brother of Otto Edward Makmot, the recently elected Member of Parliament for Agago South in Agago district.
Canadian media reported last week that Dr Otto and six others including a pharmacist ‘‘allegedly used phony prescriptions to sell large quantities of the deadly opioid on the streets of Sudbury,’’ The Globe and Mail, quoted the police as saying.
According to the newspaper, Dr Otto had been disciplined before by the provincial college of physicians, a professional regulatory body.
‘‘In a decision last year, he admitted to lax assessments of patients applying for a Special Diet Allowance, which provides assistance to people with unusual dietary conditions such as lactose intolerance. He billed the province about $250,000 for the assessments between 2005 and 2012, the college’s investigation found. ‘’
The statement added: ‘‘Dr. Otto was fined $10,000 and had his medical licence suspended for two months,’’ The Globe and Mail reported.
In a statement to the Toronto Star, another Canadian newspaper, Dr Otto’s lawyer, David M. Humphrey said his client had denied the allegations of trafficking fentanyl
“Dr. Otto is shocked by the allegations. He denies any criminal wrongdoing and intends to vigorously defend himself against the allegations,” David M. Humphrey.
The newspaper reported that Dr Otto is facing ‘‘four charges, including two counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, one count of trafficking and one of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, according to York police.’’
Dr Otto’s medical license has not been revoked but The Toronto Star reported that ‘‘under his under his bail conditions’’ he is ‘‘not allowed to prescribe certain narcotics.’’
The provincial college of physicians, a professional regulatory body, said it was closely following the allegations against Dr Otto and said that his license would not be revoked based on an allegation.
Dr Otto went to Makerere University in the 1980’s where he contested for the guild presidency but lost. He left Uganda in the turbulence of the 1980’s for Canada where he completed his medical degree from McMaster University.
Otto reportedly has business interests in Uganda including in construction and courier services.
5 Comments
It is very difficult to believe the police and news paper reports under white supremacists system who seek by any means necessary to demean, degrade, besmirch, convict and punish Black people, without truth. They can concoct anything against a black person and run it day and night on TV, Radio, Newspapers, Magazines, Internets etc until every body begins to believe it. Meanwhile they would quietly go and apologize to the victim, but leave the lies in the media as truth, as well as in the minds of the public.
your comments here epitomises the victim mentality which is unfortunately deeply engraved on psychic of very many acholis/black people.if dr otto has overstepped is boundary as a medical practitioner then he should be held accountable, canada is not like uganda where unprofessionalism, con artistry and outright is theft is an accepted part of daily life.If dr otto is indeed innocent as you want to insist then the court will certainly exonerate him,and mind you that courts in canada is not like in your uganda where judges are easily compromised. Bear in mind that the purported white supremacists system which you seem to loathe is the very system that trained dr otto, gave him a job and a sanctuary, something he failed to get in his native acholi/uganda.
Even though you make very logical arguments, I seem to be at a loss why you are referencing Acholi in your piece. Could we take it then that you have a beef you wish to score with Acholi people for some warped reason? Take a trip north of Karuma, we are here in abundance, and you will find us still the same defiant nation never intending to apologise for being Acholi. At least for those of us with gonnards. A mother never abandons her son even as society labels him a thief. That is left for others.
This is terrible. You want to judge the whole people of Acoli as psychic? You generalize but you seem to be hurt by those who generalize? If you know about the Aborigines in Canada how they are being treated then ask yourself whether you are more JUST than others. Whether you accept it or not there is injustice happening around the world regardless of race or country.
Come on guys. I know Otto quite well. The story talks about him being an Acoli. Second, he had a prior problem with his medical practice. Now, he has another problem. Nova is not pulling anything out of thin air. Let Otto have his due. Just pore over the papers; there are many Ugandans (including Acoli) being caught in shady deals.
Let us not condone this nonsense. Nobody is discriminating when you fuck up.