I used cancer ruse to get $50,000, says 'Dr' Sham

A bogus doctor yesterday reversed his plea and admitted trying to cheat a housewife out of $50,000 after telling her that her husband had been diagnosed with testicular cancer.

On Monday in the District Court, Sham Kwok-keung, 45, denied attempting to obtain property by deception by masquerading as a doctor, but yesterday admitted the charge. But he still denies a charge of attempting to procure another person for unlawful sex by false pretences.

The court heard on Monday that Sham, a former restaurant worker, tried to trick a woman - identified as Ms A - into having sex with him in order to rid her husband, 60, of 'cancer'.

Sham allegedly rang Ms A, 34, on July 1 claiming to be a Dr Kwok from Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Ms A was told her husband had testicular cancer and the best cure was to have sex with another man who carried an immunity, prosecutor Agnes Chan said.

She was also allegedly told she would have to pay $50,000 to have sex with the man with immunity, whom Sham would select for her.

Ms A agreed to meet Sham but first consulted her doctor for contraception, the court heard on Monday. The doctor examined her husband and found no sign of cancer.