A Birmingham doctor attempted to pass off forged covid-19 "fit to fly" certificates in order to board a flight to Egypt.
Sohyla Mohamed, 36, of Harborne, Birmingham, admitted a charge of fraud by false representation when she appeared on a previous occasion at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court.
She was sentenced by the same court on Friday, 14th May 2021.
Fraud by false representation is an offence under section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. It has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 10 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment.
Magistrates heard that Dr Mohamed, an Egyptian national, sourced the three forged certificates - one for herself and each of her two children - from a friend, who had downloaded them from the internet.
The cost of a genuine fit to fly certificate, otherwise known as a PCR certificate, is around £120.
She presented them as she attempted to board an EgyptAir flight at London Heathrow Airport on Friday, 2nd April 2021.
Prosecutor David Roberts outlined the circumstances of the offence: "A family of three, this defendant and her two children, presented themselves to check-in to travel on an EgyptAir flight with negative covid certificates.
"Airport staff were suspicious and checked with the clinic, which was said to have issued the certificate and it was confirmed the defendant had not attended that clinic.
"She later attended Heathrow Police Station and when questioned said she asked a friend for the certificate to travel and said she had done the lateral flow test that proved to be negative.
"She said she didn't really think about the impact of presenting a fake certificate, but knew she was negative from the lateral flow test.
'The offence has raised culpability and potential harm flying, at this time.
'The Heathrow supervisor says there has been a rise in fake PCR test certificates.
"She said a friend produced the covid certificate for free."
The court heard that Dr Mohamed arrived in the UK a year ago, when her husband secured employment here. Her employers called her back to Egypt at short notice, so she was in a hurry to return there.
Probation Officer Howard Gibbs, who had interviewed the eye specialist, said: "She says she fully understands her actions were wrong and is fully appreciative of what she has done."
Addressing the court, Dr Mohamed said: "I know I am guilty, but I did not intend to do this, but I was in a rush to go to Egypt and that is why I did this.
"I wanted to make sure I was free of covid and did that lateral flow test. I did not believe it was a very big issue like this."
Magistrates were of the opinion that the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate. However, given Dr Mohamed's previous good character, remorse and timely guilty plea, they indicated the sentence would be suspended.
Presiding Justice Susan Daniel-Keisler, sentencing, said: "She knew what she was doing, she knew a PCR test was required as she found a friend to make a false document for her.
"She could have put many people at risk."
Dr Mohamed was sentenced to 6 weeks' custody suspended for 12 months, with the requirement that she completes 60 hours of unpaid work.
She was also ordered to pay £128 victim surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.
Remorseful as Dr Mohamed may be, she is an educated lady who has made a very serious error of judgement.
She does not practise in the UK, but if she ever wishes to do so her conviction may prove a very significant barrier.
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