Student caught taking TOEFL for his friend in UAE

Dubai - The original information on the ID card was "altered".

A university student allegedly took an international English-language test on behalf of his friend, an Abu Dhabi court has heard. According to court records, the students allegedly forged an identity card, which the defendant then showed to a supervisor at the examination centre to take the test.
The defendant, however, claimed in court that he was "threatened and forced" to take the test on the other person's behalf.
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance heard that the student was caught after officials at the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) centre found out that he had handed in a forged identity card. TOEFL is a standardised test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enrol in English-speaking universities.
Prosecutors said the original information on the ID card had been "altered".
Officers said the young man had connived with his friend - who is still at large - to commit the forgery after agreeing to help the latter take the exam. Prosecutors charged the student with impersonation and forgery. His friend is being tried in absentia for forgery. 
The student, however, denied the charges when he appeared in court. He claimed he was going out of the examination centre when he was stopped by two Arab youths.
"The men threatened me and forced me to re-enter the exam centre after taking away my ID card and handing me another. They also took away my phone," the defendant claimed.
His lawyer claimed there was no proof that his client knew the person he was accused of helping.
A verdict will be pronounced on August 30.
- ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi