Dubai: The lawyer of a renowned dermatologist, accused of electronic forgery, argued in court that her client didn’t forge any documents and that she runs her own clinic in India.

The Canadian dermatologist, who is famous for providing cosmetic treatments to celebrities and megastars in India, pleaded not guilty before the Dubai Court of First Instance and denied creating an online profile with Dubai Health Authority [DHA] to apply for a permit to practise dermatology in May 2016.

She also refuted the accusation of practising dermatology after she provided a forged medical degree and forged American Board of Medical Specialities certification to Dubai’s health authorities.

“My client is a specialised doctor … she practises dermatology and has her own clinic in India. Forgery is the act of changing a truth … and the papers that she submitted do not change the true fact that she is a dermatologist. Prosecutors failed to produce any document that were submitted by my client … she did not even participate in the process of lodging the online application to DHA,” the Canadian’s lawyer Salwa Al Hariri argued before the presiding judge in courtroom three.

DHA received the electronic application of the suspected doctor who, according to records, uploaded all her documents and papers as per the required procedures.

The suspect was said to have uploaded her personal identification papers and a medical college degree certificate from an American college, a certification from the American Board of Medical Specialities [ABMS], a permit that she had practised medicine in India, a medical experience letter and a certificate of good professional conduct.

Lawyer Hariri contended that her client did not have any criminal intention as she defended in court: “The private clinic [where the suspect was hired to work] and the centre [that operate DHA’s online licensing system] were the one who submitted the online application … it was not my client. The suspect entered the UAE in September 2016. The application and the procedures took place in early 2016. A one-year temporary permit was issued for the suspect to work. How could she have been the one who committed the crime! For that application to be lodged online, a labour contract must be attached with it and the applicant’s signature is also required for the application to be processed. Prosecutors should not have accused my client, who did not commit any crime.”

Records said once DHA authorities discovered that the suspect was unlisted with ABMS, her application was rejected before she applied again and provided a new ABMS certification that, she claimed, had been renewed.

In April 2016, the suspect was granted a permit to practise dermatology in a Dubai-based private clinic pending further verifications that, according to records, had to be done by a government-approved body.

In November 2016, the body reported to DHA that the doctor’s medical degree and ABMS certification were forged before the permit was revoked.

“The clinic collected the temporary licence that allowed my client to practise her profession … but she did not start working as she was waiting for the procedures to be finalised. Investigation reports did not mention or prove that my client commenced work at the clinic or treat any patient. The case file also lacked any medical form or check-up form that carries my client’s signature … that is a crystal-clear proof that my client didn’t practise dermatology at the clinic,” argued lawyer Hariri.

The statements of prosecution witnesses were inconsistent and unfounded, concluded lawyer Hariri, who asked the court to acquit her client.

When she entered her plea in court, the suspect denied obtaining a permit to practise medicine using forged electronic documents and certifications, denied providing the health authorities with false information and denied threatening a government-approved body [that verified her medical papers].

A ruling in the case will be heard on April 22.