On oversized crutches, Matthew Lani hobbled out of the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court without setting foot in jail after claiming to be a medical doctor on TikTok.
The Hawks announced on Sunday night that Lani would face charges of impersonating a medical doctor after he was detained by security guards at the Helen Joseph Hospital.
The social media persona Lani developed, portraying himself as a medical doctor and intern at separate Johannesburg hospitals, gained him a large following.
A criminal case was filed against him by the Gauteng Department of Health and another doctor he allegedly impersonated once he was outed.
Lani’s lawyer announced Tuesday that the case against him has been dismissed. He was escorted out of the court building by his lawyer.
Lani staged an impromptu press conference with attorney Dumisani Mabunda at his side, sometimes rubbing his head. He was walking with crutches. A cut on his lip was also visible.
