JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — A former financial counselor at a southern Indiana hospital faces charges alleging that he stole nearly $1,500 from a cancer patient after telling the illegal immigrant she wouldn't get chemotherapy treatments unless she paid him first.
Arsalan Haq, 32, of Louisville, Ky., faces five counts of felony theft and one misdemeanor count of intimidation. He was released from jail Wednesday after posting $1,000 bond. His attorney, Brad Jacobs, said he still needs to discuss the allegations with his client, who offers a different account of the events.
The News and Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/wAxz6N ) that Haq was a financial counselor at Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville but was dismissed after the allegations arose.
According to a probable-cause affidavit, the patient told police Dec. 28 that she was diagnosed with cancer in July and then referred to Haq because she doesn't have insurance. The woman said that when she told Haq she could make payments for her treatments, he replied that she could not receive treatments unless she paid the full amount, the affidavit states.
She said Haq told her to apply for Medicaid, but that when she responded that Medicaid is only for Americans and that she is not in the country legally he said that's not true because he has "contacts."
The affidavit states that Haq contacted the woman in September and asked her to pay $300 cash. A week later, he allegedly demanded $400. When she said it would be difficult to make that payment, he asked if she wanted treatment or not, according to the documents. He also allegedly told her she had to pay money for application fees and paperwork because she is an illegal immigrant.
Prosecutors say Haq continued to demand money, saying that otherwise her treatment would end. He even met her at a market to collect money, according to the affidavit. In total, she made four payments totaling $1,495, the affidavit states.
After the woman asked a friend for financial help the friend told her the situation was not the way that hospitals work. The woman then met with hospital representatives Dec. 5 and told them about the payments. At that point the hospital provided her with $205 to pay Haq.
The affidavit states that an audio recorder program was activated on the woman's cell phone to record her conversation with Haq and a hidden video camera was set up at the hospital, which allegedly captured the woman making a payment to Haq.
According to the affidavit, a Clark County detective observed the video showing the woman hand Haq paper money, which he then placed in a drawer at his work station. Haq is then seen taking the money from the drawer and putting it in his pants pocket.
Jacobs said he still must see the video and talk with his client.
"His version of events differs greatly from what's in the report," Jacobs said.
Clark County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said Haq was immediately terminated by the hospital, and the sheriff's department was contacted.
"Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for people to take advantage of immigrants who don't speak the language or aren't familiar with American customs," Mull said.
Martin Padgett, president and CEO of Clark Memorial Hospital, said in a statement Thursday that the hospital "is dedicated to providing quality health care to all of our patients, without regard for ability to pay."
"We are sorry that a patient and their family has had an unfortunate situation with one of our team members during an extremely difficult time for them," he said.

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