Dubai Clinic Employee Jailed for Issuing Fake Medical Certificates for Paid Sick Leave

DUBAI:A female employee of a private clinic in Dubai has been sentenced to imprisonment for issuing fake medical certificates in exchange for money to employees of various companies, enabling them to obtain paid sick leave without undergoing medical examinations.

According to a report by *Khaleej Times*, the Dubai Criminal Court convicted the clinic employee of forging electronic medical certificates, breaching trust and defrauding companies. Other individuals involved in the illegal scheme were also handed varying sentences.

Court proceedings revealed that the woman accepted payments from employees of private companies and issued them medical certificates without examining them. The employees allegedly used the documents to secure paid leave while remaining absent from work.

Investigations by Dubai Police found that the employee had been working with individuals employed by different private organisations to produce fraudulent medical certificates.

She reportedly charged amounts ranging from a few hundred dirhams to more than Dh1,000 for each certificate. The documents were prepared to appear authentic and resemble legitimate medical records.

### How the Fraud Was Exposed

According to the report, the scheme came to light after the management of a private company in Dubai noticed an unusual increase in the frequency of sudden and repeated sick-leave requests submitted by some employees.

The company’s human resources department reviewed the medical certificates and discovered that several documents carried the same digital stamp belonging to a single clinic.

The company subsequently launched an internal investigation and reported the matter to the relevant authorities.

Dubai Police investigations revealed that the clinic employee had allegedly abused her access to the facility’s electronic health portal to generate fraudulent medical certificates for various employees.

### Fake Digital Signatures and Backdated Certificates

Investigators also found that the accused had entered earlier dates on the certificates to make it appear that the employees had undergone medical examinations in the past.

She allegedly misused the clinic’s electronic system to apply forged digital signatures attributed to doctors.

The employees then used the certificates to obtain paid sick leave from their employers despite the absence of authentic medical examination records or verified evidence of illness.

The scheme reportedly caused financial losses to the companies and undermined confidence in official and institutional medical records.

### Court Rejects Defence Arguments

During the trial, defence lawyers argued that the irregularities involving the certificates resulted from administrative errors or unauthorised actions by employees.

However, the court rejected these arguments, ruling that the defendants had deliberately falsified official-style medical records and misused the clinic’s electronic system.

The court found that the fraudulent certificates had been issued to help employees obtain paid leave to which they were not legally entitled.

The female employee and her accomplices received prison sentences of varying lengths according to their respective roles in the scheme. The court also ordered financial penalties and compensation for the losses caused.

Under the ruling, foreign defendants involved in the case will be deported from the United Arab Emirates after completing their prison sentences.

The report did not disclose the nationalities of the accused, the total number of defendants or the specific lengths of their prison terms.

### UAE Rules for Medical Certificates

Dubai has established regulations governing the issuance of medical certificates for sick leave through the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

Under the applicable procedures, licensed doctors or dentists may issue sick-leave certificates based on a patient’s medical condition and the required documentation.

The DHA’s electronic system is intended to ensure the accuracy and transparency of medical records and help prevent fraudulent documentation.

The case highlights the potential criminal consequences of deliberately falsifying medical records through approved electronic systems and using fraudulent documents for financial gain.

Tighten the article and remove repetitionUse more cautious legal wording throughout