Dubai: A mechanic at a driving institute and two other men have been accused of deceiving a woman by selling her a faulty car for Dh31,500 using forged papers.

The 27-year-old Sri Lankan woman was said to have agreed to buy a car from a Pakistani man in Sharjah, who told her that the car was in good condition, The man allowed the woman to test-drive the car for a brief period and gave her the RTA papers which certified that the vehicle was in good condition and safe to drive, said the records.

The woman bought the car for Dh31,500 but when she drove the vehicle with her mother towards Dubai the engine started giving strange noises and black smoke started emitting from it. when the Sri Lankan woman could not drive the car any further, she called the man and told him about the situation.

The Pakistani man accused her of having caused that glitch in the engine. Records said the woman arranged to tow the car to her place and lodged a complaint about it to RTA. Following several inspections by RTA, it was discovered that the car had failed fitness tests on five occasions. It was also discovered that the woman had been given a forged certificate by the man that the car was fit for driving. The woman reported the matter to the police, who after primary interrogations arrested a 56-year-old Filipino mechanic and a 36-year-old Pakistani computer operator. The Pakistani man [who sold the car to the woman] remains at large.

Prosecutors accused the Filipino mechanic of taking Dh30 in bribe from the Pakistani computer operator to issue the forged vehicle fitness certificate. He was also accused of abusing his work at the institute [where the car was examined], forging RTA papers and electronic transactions. The other two Pakistani suspects were charged with aiding and abetting the Filipino. They were also accused of swindling the woman, embezzling her money and handing her forged papers.

The Filipino suspect denied all the charges and pleaded not guilty before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.

The presiding judge adjourned the hearing until the Pakistani computer operator is legally notified about the next hearing on August 9.