This report from News24, published on 23 August 2024.

A KwaZulu-Natal dentist who was running an illegal drug and alcohol abuse treatment centre in Durban has been found guilty of culpable homicide. This after one of his patients died after suffering cardiac arrest during ibogaine detoxing treatment in 2017.

Mohamed Jeewa, 64, appeared in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban on Thursday, 22 August 2024, where, in addition to the conviction on culpable homicide, he was also found guilty on a raft of charges relating to running the unregistered treatment centre and administering schedule six drugs without a licence.

READ: The Shadow Side of Rehab and Ibogaine Treatment

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Jeewa is a qualified dentist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. As such, he is restricted to performing professional acts only in dentistry.

However, from 2011 to November 2017, the dentist operated an illegal drug and alcohol detoxification facility under the name of Minds Alive Wellness Centre in the Westville area, NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said.

This facility was not registered with the Department of Social Development as a treatment centre, nor was it registered with the Department of Health as a detoxification centre," she said.

"Jeewa was aware that such registration was a prerequisite to operating such a facility. The Minds Alive website contained information relating to the services offered by the centre and by Jeewa.

READ; Gabon Faces Bio-Piracy Threat Because of Global Demand for Wonder Plant Medicine, Ibogaine

Ramkisson-Kara said Jeewa advertised himself as a specialist with extensive knowledge in Ibogaine therapy for drug addiction.

He also attended several conferences on the use of Ibogaine where he was advised - and advised others - that Ibogaine 

should not be used to treat an addiction to benzodiazepines.

"While Jeewa was authorised to import a dry plant material [Tabermanthe Iboga] for research purposes, he used this dry plant material to manufacture preparations containing Ibogaine without a licence to do so," she said. "He further dispensed, sold, and exported such preparations without a licence or other authorisation to do so."

His illegal practice attracted French Canadian citizen Milos Martinovic, who was addicted to OxyContin (an opiate) and Xanax (known generically as alprazolam, which is a benzodiazepine).

Gabon's Gold Mine: Ibogaine Emerges as a Powerful Plant Medicine of the Future

Martinovic travelled to South Africa for this treatment at Minds Alive after learning of the services on its website.

"Martinovic reached out to Jeewa to obtain Ibogaine therapy for his addiction to opiates and benzodiazepines. Jeewa agreed to treat him for a fee," Ramkisson-Kara.

Ramkisson-Kara said that upon Martinovic's arrival at the practice, he had an unknown number of OxyContin tablets and 16 boxes of Xanax, which Jeewa allowed him to keep.

"Jeewa told him to continue taking the OxyContin and Xanax tablets to avoid the withdrawal symptoms associated with the abrupt discontinuation of a drug but to try to reduce his intake in preparation for the Ibogaine therapy," she said.

"Jeewa effectively directed Martinovic to self-medicate with no supervision."

READ: Ibogaine has Been a Prescription-Only Medicine in South Africa since 2016.

On 7 November 2017, Martinovic was admitted to Minds Alive and an enrolled nurse who worked for Jeewa administered Ibogaine capsules to him under Jeewa's instruction.

Ramkisson-Kara said the nurse gave him three to four separate doses.

"At some point, following the administration of the last dose of Ibogaine, Martinovic went into cardiac arrest and subsequently died," she said.

"During the treatment, Martinovic was not adequately monitored, and there was an ineffective emergency response after he experienced the cardiac arrest."

Following his conviction on Thursday, his bail of R20 000 was extended, with conditions that he must report thrice weekly to the Sydenham Police Station. The case was adjourned to 12 September 2024 for sentencing proceedings.

EDITORS NOTE: Click here for Google's page on Ibogaine treatment in South Africa to check how prevelant it is has become among alternative health practioners.

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