Abu Dhabi man used own insurance card to check in illegal immigrant

ABU DHABI // A man used his own insurance card to check an illegal immigrant into hospital because he was scared and did not know what to do, the Criminal Court heard today.

MG, from Egypt, said his compatriot SM approached him to ask for a job and was undergoing a test at a construction site when he fell and injured himself. He took the worker to hospital and gave him his card to get treatment.

Both men were then charged with forgery - a charge they denied at the Criminal Court.

The employer said he was nervous and did not think properly before handing over his insurance card, saying he was still in the process of recruiting the worker.

The other man also denied working illegally. "We were in the amnesty period and I was still applying for the job," he said.

A verdict is expected on February 10.

hdajani@thenational.ae