A lazy doctor told hospital bosses his sister had been killed in the World Trade Centre terrorist attacks so he could get time off work, a medical tribunal heard yesterday.

Dr Sidharth Sahni, a senior house officer in plastic surgery, was granted compassionate leave after claiming his sister had been travelling on one of the planes which hit New York's twin towers on September 11 2001.

Colleagues granted him time off at Cross House Hospital in Kilmarnock, Scotland, but suspicions were raised when it emerged he had enjoyed previous days off for several other "family misfortunes".

Checks revealed no-one of Indian nationality was killed in the terror attacks.

At a General Medical Council hearing in Manchester Dr Sahni faces charges of serious professional misconduct.

Earlier prosecutor Miss Rowena Goode, for the GMC, said that in 1999 Sahni was a senior house officer at Shotley Bridge Hospital, County Durham, when, on 9 June, he applied for study leave to sit medical exams in London.

The day was approved and he returned to work the following day claiming he had failed. It later emerged he never sat the exam.

In 2001 Sahni began work in Kilmarnock and was due to return from annual leave on Monday 10 September but only appeared on Wednesday the 12th - claiming flights from India were delayed.

But on the afternoon of Tuesday 11th - shortly after the terrorist attacks on America - he was at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow.

The tribunal heard how Sahni told a secretary he had an uncle who worked in one of the twin towers. But a day later his story had changed.

The next week Sahni asked for time off to attend the three-day Nottingham International Breast Cancer Conference saying he was due to make a presentation.

A colleague contacted the conference organisers only to discover that he had not attended and had taken the three days off.

As a result, dishonesty checks were made into Sahni's CV which uncovered several lies - surrounding his qualifications and awards received.

Sahni was spoken to by his superior but left Cross House voluntarily in October 2001.

He did not attend the GMC hearing or arrange any legal representation for himself. He is believed to be living in New Delhi. The tribunal continues.