The man at the centre of an investigation into a Dubai cosmetic surgery scam is on the most wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Interpol.
Steven Gabriel Moos is wanted by the FBI and also authorities in Asian countries and Latin America in connection with medical fraud.
On Monday, it was reported that Moos was caught impersonating Washington-based Dr Steven Hopping, known for performing surgery on Hollywood celebrities and as one of the most respected surgeons in the US.
He was arrested by Dubai police following a sting operation at his Al Barsha villa and is in custody after being charged with endangering his patient’s lives, impersonating a physician and carrying out unlicensed activities.
Moos has been hunted by the FBI since 2002, according to the US authority’s website, and a federal arrest warrant charging Moos with four counts related to medical fraud was issued on June 3, 2004 in Portland, Oregon.
On July 9, 2004, the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners revoked Moos’ medical licence, the FBI added.
On the FBI website, Moos’ list of alleged crimes include medical fraud, misbranding medication, making false statements to the government and obtaining controlled drugs by misrepresentation.
In comments published by Emarat Al Youm on Tuesday, Dr Hopping said he had heard about an imposter in Dubai and was planning to come to the emirate to follow the court trial.
He added that he was considering taking civil action against Moos to claim damages.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in Dubai Healthcare City, whose name was included on fake business cards handed out by the imposter, said it was also planning to sue Moos, the Arabic paper said.
The card, which also had Dr Hopping’s name on it, offered facelifts for AED500.
Hospital chiefs alerted the health authority who in turn tipped off police officers and a trap was set to catch him meeting women who were posing as potential patients.
The Arabic paper said the police investigation showed that some of the surgeries performed caused facial deformities to patients. The report said some victims were so deformed that they lost their jobs after being unable to show their faces at work.
It added that the surgeries were allegedly carried out in the kitchen of a villa in Al Barsha.
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