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Mechanic accused of issuing fake certificate for Dh30 bribe

Dubai - According to public prosecution records, the 56-year-old technician abused his post and collected the money and then issued the document that falsely stated that the vehicle passed the test.

A Filipino car mechanic allegedly solicited and accepted Dh30 as a bribe from a man to issue him a certificate that his friend's vehicle passed the technical test and was well maintained. The car owner managed consequently to sell his car for Dh31,500 with the use of the fake certificate. 
According to public prosecution records, the 56-year-old technician abused his post and collected the money and then issued the document that falsely stated that the vehicle passed the test. He has been charged with bribery and forgery. 
The other man, a Pakistani, working as a computer programmer, 36, has been charged with offering a bribe to the technician and aiding and abetting in the forgery and fraud crimes. Prosecution records show he managed to help the owner of the car sell it to a woman for Dh31,500. The car owner, a Pakistani who is on the run, is being charged in absentia with fraud and criminal complicity in the forgery.
The incident dates back to August 30, last year. An Emirati legal researcher with the Roads and Transport Authority said they received a complaint from a woman. "She said she had bought a car in August last year, from the runaway accused. She had already set a condition to him that she would not take the car unless she had the certificate proving it was in good condition.
She discovered she had been duped after she drove the car and found it had many defects and then it broke down on the road. 
"When she took the car to a vehicle inspection centre, she found it had many technical problems and there was no way it could have passed the test. Besides, there was a record for the car showing it had failed technical tests five times for the same reasons.
She had the car tested again and the result was negative," the researcher said.
The complainant, a 27-year-old Sri Lankan, said she was looking to buy a car when she met the runaway accused through one of her acquaintances.
"I was with my mother and my friend when we met him on September 3 last year near a shopping centre in Sharjah. He was driving a car and told me it was a good bargain. He did not let me drive it enough or for a long distance but only said it had been technically inspected on August 30 and that there was no need to worry."
She added that she could negotiate with the accused who eventually settled for Dh31,500 as the price.
Shortly later the car broke down and started to release smoke from the front. She contacted the same man who pretended he was surprised. "He insisted the car was perfect and it was me who caused the problem."
When she took the car by the road recovery service to the inspection centre, she discovered the car was not good as claimed by the seller.
mary@khaleejtimes.com