Acquitted in Fake Attestation Case: Bihar National Cleared by Sharjah Appeals Court

Sharjah: A national from Bihar, India, who found himself in legal trouble due to a fake attestation on his marriage certificate, has been acquitted by the Sharjah Appeals Court. Shabbir Alam, a resident of Semari in Bhagalpur district, Bihar, was cleared of all charges after it was determined that he had no direct involvement in the criminal act.

The favorable verdict for Shabbir Alam came after considering the arguments and memorandum presented by the lawyers of Yab Legal Services against a complaint filed by the Ministry of Justice. The complaint alleged an attempt to deceive the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sharjah by affixing fake seals and stamps on the marriage certificate.

The incident dates back to March 25, 2019. Shabbir Alam had his marriage certificate attested in 2019 through an office in his hometown in connection with family visa procedures. This attested certificate was later submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sharjah for visa processing. During inspection, authorities discovered that the seal of the UAE Embassy in Delhi on the certificate was fake, leading them to file a case with the Sharjah Police.

Subsequently, the Sharjah Criminal Court, in Shabbir Alam's absence, sentenced him to one year in jail followed by deportation. Shabbir Alam then approached Salam Pappinissery, CEO of Yab Legal Services.

Yab Legal Services' lawyers argued in court that Shabbir Alam had no direct involvement in the alleged crime. They asserted that the fake seal and stamp were created and affixed to the certificate by an office in his hometown, and that Shabbir Alam submitted the marriage certificate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs unknowingly. They pleaded for his acquittal, emphasizing his innocence.

While the Sharjah Criminal Court initially upheld its previous judgment, the Appeals Court, upon reviewing the same arguments, found insufficient evidence to prove that Shabbir Alam intentionally committed the crime. Furthermore, he had consistently denied the charges during questioning. Convinced that the fault was not on Shabbir Alam's part, the Appeals Court ruled him innocent.