ALOR STAR: The owner of Nasi Kandar Salleh in Napoh, said to have sparked the Sivagangga cluster for Covid-19 infection, has been moved to the Pokok Sena prison yesterday.
State Health director Dr Mohd Fikri Ujang said Nezar Mohamed Sabur Batcha, 57, who was sentenced to jail, was previously detained by prison warden at a ward in Alor Star Hospital.
He said Nezar was earlier put under quarantine and was monitored by staff from State Health Department (JKN) at the hospital to ensure that he was free from the virus.
"In an earlier decision, I was informed that he would be sent to Pokok Sena Prison.
"After he was discharged yesterday evening, he was taken to prison immediately," he said when contacted by NSTP.
On Aug 13, Nezar was found guilty of violating home quarantine orders and sentenced to a five-month jail and fined RM12,000.
The sentencing, however, could not be carried out a she was still under hospital supervision.
Nezar, who has a permanent resident status, was charged under Section 15(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, which carried a maximum jail term of two years, or a fine, or both.
He was arrested on July 23 for violating the home quarantine order after returning from India on July 13. He was seen wearing the pink quarantine wristband when spotted at his restaurant.
To date, 45 people from this cluster were tested positive, involving cases in Kedah, Perlis and Penang.