Worker forged PCR test results to fly home, Dubai court hears

The man went to a typing centre in Dubai’s Hor Al Anz area to change the date on the test report

A Pakistani man was arrested at Dubai International Airport for changing the date on his PCR test report.

A worker was detained after he forged his PCR test result to fly home, Dubai Criminal Court heard.

The Pakistani man, 32, was arrested at Dubai International Airport after a dnata employee realised that the date on his test report had been changed.

As of October 2020, all international passengers to Pakistan require a negative Covid-19 PCR test that should have been taken within 72 hours of travel.

The man presented his original report to the airport official but was told the date was invalid. The officer then asked him to present the text message of the result.

“But the man got nervous and refused,” the airport official said.

“He was asked to take the test again but he turned away and left.”

The worker returned to the same officer after some time and presented a Covid-19 test certificate with a valid date.

The officer examined the report and realised the date had been tampered with.

The worker said he took the test in Sharjah three days before travelling. He said his friend, also from Pakistan, collected the report on his behalf.

He said he was unaware of any changes made to the report.

But the friend confessed to taking the man to a typing centre in Dubai’s Hor Al Anz area to forge the date.

Both were arrested.