A female citizen who flouted the mandatory self-quarantine order was sentenced to jail for one day and a fine of RM8,000 at the Magistrate’s Court here today (August 14).
Magistrate Nabihah Mohd Noor meted out the sentence on the defendant, Nur Emah Mohamad Hashim, 72, after she pleaded guilty of the charge.
According to the charge, Nur Emah disobeyed the self-quarantine order issued by an authorised officer, Syarifuddin Abu Bakar on July 4, 5.30pm, after her arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
She committed the offence on July 6, around 8am, at Hanaz Café in Halaman Meru Permai, in which she was charged under Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Anyone proven guilty can be charged under Section 24(a) of the same Act and either face up to two years of prison, pay a fine, or both.
Chief environmental officer of the state health department, Ahmad Fakurazi Abu Bakar conducted the prosecution. Nur Emah was unrepresented.
Ahmad Fakurazi requested the court to sentence the defendant accordingly for flouting the self-quarantine order.
According to facts, the state health department received a complaint on July 21 regarding a viral image of a woman wearing a wristband issued to persons under investigation (PUI) or surveillance in home quarantine.
The woman depicted was at a location other than her home, which was at a restaurant in Meru Raya.
Investigations conducted by the Kinta District Health Office found that Nur Emah, who had just returned from the United Kingdom, was under observation and placed under home quarantine from July 4 to 18.
Rosli Mansor
