A MAN has claimed that his friend forged his Covid-19 test report, to help him travel to Saudi Arabia, without his knowledge, a court heard.
The information was given by a Pakistani man, 31, who is standing trial at the High Criminal Court along with three other fellow nationals in connection with using fake Covid-19 test certificates.
They were arrested at King Fahad Causeway by the Saudi authorities on June 2.
However, the 31-year-old denied wrongdoing and pinned the blame on a friend in Pakistan – who has not been implicated in the case.
“I did nothing wrong,” he told judges.
“I came to Bahrain in May and did three PCR tests.
“I stayed in a hotel and wanted to travel to Saudi Arabia to find a job.”
The defendant said he sought help from his friend in Pakistan after he was turned back by Saudi authorities on the causeway.
“I was travelling to Saudi Arabia with three other Pakistani people (co-defendants),” he added.
“My friend in Pakistan then helped me book travel tickets and hotel tickets in Saudi Arabia.
“I told him that we were turned back by officials who said we hadn’t completed our quarantine in Bahrain.
“He then sent me a QR code for the PCR test, which I thought we had taken before.
“However, we were then told that these certificates were forged before being arrested.”
Despite the defendant pleading innocence, his co-defendant, 46, admitted to forging the certificates.
The trial has been adjourned until Monday for review.
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