British man detained for trying to board plane after falsifying COVID test

The British citizen arrived in Poland on Friday. He presented proper documents at the time, proving he has been vaccinated against COVID-19. That allowed him to avoid mandatory quarantine. In order to return to Britain, however, he had to have taken a test at least 72 hours before departure.

The 39-year-old foreigner took the test, but it showed a positive result. The man did not want to remain in Poland, and so he resorted to forgery.

"He decided to edit the test printout by changing the signature in the result field from "positive" to "negative", hoping this would allow him to board a plane destined for East Midlands," Dagmara Bielec-Janas from the Vistula Border Guard Regional Unit said.

The British man's ploy came to naught. Border Guard officers noticed the man popped out in the system as a person bound to self-isolate at home by the end of the week. As a result of trying to use deceit to board a plane knowing he had a positive test result, the 39-year-old will have to face serious consequences.

"He knowingly created risk to health and life of over 200 people, to passengers and airport staff, with whom he had contact in the terminal during check-in," Dagmara Bielec-Janas said.

He has been charged with creating epidemiological danger and spreading an infectious disease, as well as forging a document. According to Polish law, these charges carry between 6 months and 8 years in prison.

"With regards to deliberate violation of isolation conditions, he has been additionally issued a fine in the amount of 500 zlotys," the Vistula Border Guard Regional Unit spokeswoman said.

Furthermore, an administrative procedure has been launched regarding the British citizen, aimed at ordering him to return home, and a court has been asked to place the man in a closed centre for foreigners.