BALIK PULAU: A technician was slapped with a RM2,500 fine, in default of five days' jail, by the Magistrate's Court, here, today for violating a Covid-19 home quarantine order earlier this month.
Magistrate Khalijah Mohd Khalid fined S. Ramesh Kumar, 42, after he pleaded guilty to the offence when the charge was read to him by the court interpreter.
He looked remorseful during the proceeding.
"This is a serious case because the people have been staying at home for three months during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
"By right, the accused should have complied with the 14-day home quarantine order," she said when handing down her judgment.
Ramesh Kumar pleaded guilty to violating the home quarantine order by attending an exhibition at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Bayan Baru, near here, at about 5.45pm on Aug 7.
He was charged under Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), punishable under Section 24 of the same Act.
The offence provides for imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Rais Imran Hamid, in pressing for a deterrent sentence for the accused and the public at large, said this was a matter of public interest.
"There is no time for the accused to be selfish and think only of himself.
"If the people can stay at home for three months during the MCO, why can't the accused observe the 14-day home quarantine order?" he asked.
Counsel Edmund Anthony Hermon said this was the first offence ever committed by his client.
"My client apologises for committing the offence and promises not to repeat such a mistake again.
"He did not know the quarantine procedure and was unaware of the seriousness of the matter," he said, adding that his client, who earned about RM2,800 monthly, has to care for his wife, his mother and his mother-in-law.
Ramesh Kumar, whose wife was also present in court today, had eventually tested negative for Covid-19.
He was detained when a booth operator at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre alerted an auxiliary policeman upon noticing the quarantine wristband on his wrist.
Realising that the booth operator had seen the wristband, he tried to make a quick exit but a policeman caught him and brought him to the Bayan Baru police station.
Upon questioning, he revealed that he worked as a technician and that he had been tested negative for Covid-19 during the first screening, and was subjected to a 14-day home quarantine.
He was due to report for a follow-up screening last Monday.