The trial against a man who is charged with allegedly pretending to be an expert in herbal medicines and obtaining money by false pretenses got underway in the Suva Magistrates Court this morning.

Narendra Singh is alleged to have obtained money from various people in December 2007 after putting an advertisement in the dailies that he was an expert in herbal medicines and could guarantee cures for various ailments.

Singh was allegedly operating his herbal treatment practice from a hotel in Suva.

In court today, the first witness took the stand and told Magistrate Thushara Rajasinghe that he was a regular patient at CWM Hospital for about two years as he suffers from serious medical conditions and upon seeing the advertisement he went to see Singh.

He said Singh told him he was an expert in herbal medicines and could cure his condition.

The witness claimed that he paid Singh around $1,600 in total and was given three injections to cure his condition.

However, the witness told the court that his condition did not improve and he has since returned to CWM to continue with his treatment.

Five other witnesses are expected to take the stand to give evidence in the trial which continues this afternoon.