ASUNCION, July 23 (Reuters) - A health department official in Paraguay who worked as a doctor for 15 years and even directed a state clinic was arrested on Monday on charges of fraud and faking his medical degree, a prosecutor said.

Edgar Maidana, a Paraguayan whose qualifications supposedly came from San Martin de Porres de Lima University in Peru, was the latest official accused of fraud in a months-long probe of fake degrees by government prosecutor Martin Cabrera.

Cabrera told reporters he has proof Maidana "never stepped" on the grounds of the Peruvian university and that the government was investigating whether he ever studied medicine.

Maidana, who had served as medical director for two provinces and directed a health clinic, declined to talk to reporters.

Cabrera has accused other government officials of drawing bonuses for fake qualifications. In Paraguay, professionals working for the government get extra pay for holding certain levels of university degrees.

In June, the deputy minister for taxation, Andreas Neufeld, resigned after Cabrera's probe showed he had been paid bonuses based on a university degree he never received.

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