The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7214 p345
7 September 2002

Society summary

Registration application granted after inquiry

The Statutory Committee has granted an application for registration by an overseas pharmacist who had defrauded the Department of Social Security by falsely claiming benefits for housing and income support.

At its meeting on 22 November 2001, the committee heard an application for registration as a pharmacist from Asim A. Zarroug.

Geoff Hudson, of Penningtons (solicitors), presented the facts of the case to the committee. Mr Zarroug was present at the hearing and was represented by David Reissner, of Charles Russell (solicitors).

At its meeting on 25 August 2000, the committee had decided that no application from Mr Zarroug would be considered for 12 months (PJ, 24 March 2001, p386).

Giving the committee's decision, the chairman (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, QC) said that since the previous hearing, Mr Zarroug had successfully passed the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's registration examination. He had also produced references, as the committee had required him to do. Those included one from the pharmacist for whom he had been working satisfactorily as a dispensing technician during the past year.

The committee directed that Mr Zarroug's name be added to the Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists, with immediate effect.