Woman denies forging marriage contract

Dubai: An Egyptian woman denied in court yesterday the charge of forging a marriage contract [issued in her country] and using it before a Sharia judge in Dubai Courts.

"I am not guilty. I didn't forge the marriage contract," argued the 28-year-old Egyptian woman when she defended herself before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

Prosecutors accused the woman, A.A., of using the forged marriage contract before a Dubai Sharia Court judge as part of her lawsuit against an Emirati man to prove that he is the father of her baby.

The 28-year-old woman strongly denied the charges and asked the court to dismiss the forgery charges.

Meanwhile the 31-year-old Emirati man has lodged a civil compensation claim against the woman. He is seeking Dh20,000 in temporary compensation.

Proving fatherhood

The man claimed during prosecution questioning: "Two months after we married, A.A. claimed to me that she was two months pregnant. I denied being the father of that baby. So she lodged a Sharia lawsuit before the Dubai Courts against me to prove my fatherhood … she handed the court what she claimed to be a marriage contract issued from Egypt.

"The contract bore a date different than that of our official marriage date. I was not involved in that contract and I had not flown to Egypt or authorised anyone to sign on my behalf on the contract in question. We married in Sharjah and the contract was authenticated in Sharjah Sharia Court."