Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Two employees at a COVID-19 test centre abused their powers to falsify test results for money, the official spokesperson for the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Prosecution, said.

The spokesperson explained that as part of the efforts made by the UAE authorities to combat the COVID-19, curb its spread and follow up on following  instructions issued by the competent authorities by citizens and residents, the Dubai Police caught two employees working in a test centre and referred them to the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Prosecution on charges of abusing their powers to falsify COVID-19 results for some people for money, using negative test samples previously saved in the database for other healthy people to enable them to enter Abu Dhabi.

What the two defendants did is a crime punishable by temporary imprisonment and a fine of not less than Dhs150,000 and no more than Dhs750,000, the spokesperson added, noting that the legal measures were taken against the defendants, who were remanded in custody pending prosecution.

The spokesman affirmed that the Public Prosecution would take legal measures against all those who do not abide by the laws and precautionary measures related to curbing the spread of COVID-19 or those who attempt to abuse their powers to tamper with the test results.

"This is aimed at protecting the health and safety of the members of the UAE society and supporting the government efforts to contain the pandemic and minimise its effects on all health, economic and social aspects of life," he said.

WAM