GERIK: No one is above the law and that includes two VIPs who were jointly charged by the Magistrate Court here today with disobeying the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali, 59, and state executive councillor (exco) Razman Zakaria, 60, were fined RM1,000 each after they pleaded guilty before magistrate Norhidayati Mohammad Nasroh.
Also jointly charged at the same court were 13 others – including Dr Noor Azmi's brother, Noor Azman, 57 – who were also fined RM1,000 each.
According to the charge sheet, the accused were found to have gathered in an infected area for a social purpose and as such, they failed to obey the MCO.
The accused committed the offence at Dewan Maahad Tahfiz Al-Quran Lid Dakwah Wal Imamah Kampung Luat in Lenggong on April 17, between 6pm and 7pm.
According to the facts of the case, before the accused converged on the school, Dr Noor Azmi, Razman and others visited the Lenggong Health Clinic to check the preparedness of the Hulu Perak district Health Office in controlling the Covid-19 outbreak.
After visiting the clinic, the accused stopped by at the Maahad Tahfiz to perform Asar prayer, before converging on the hall of the school to have a meal.
The charge was framed under Rules 6 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020 (Regulation).
The charge carries a maximum fine of RM1,000 or six months' imprisonment or both, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Azhar Mokhtar and Mohamad Amri Alfikri Mohamad Dasuki prosecuted, while all the accused were represented by lawyer Nor Zahari Ismail.
Azhar said each of them should be punished accordingly after listening to the facts of the case.
In mitigation, Nor Zahari pleaded for a lenient sentence, as it was his clients' first ever offence and they regretted their actions and promise not to repeat it in the future.
Before meting out the sentence, Norhidayati said the accused had given good cooperation to the police throughout the investigation.
"I took into account the purpose of the gathering, which was to help the local people in fighting the spread of Covid-19.
"But such a gathering was not allowed under Rule 6(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342). It could lead to the spread of Covid-19 and expose others to the life-threatening virus," she said.
As such, Norhidayati imposed RM1,000 fines, in default of one month's jail, should they fail to pay.
Meanwhile, in a press conference outside the court room, Dr Noor Azmi apologised for his mistake and that he conforms to the country's laws and judicial system.
"I will be more careful after this and continue to serve to Malaysians," he said.