Couple among three jailed, fined for MCO violation

KOTA KINABALU: Three persons, including a couple were jailed and fined for defying the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Sipitang and Membakut.

In the first case, Sessions Court judge Ummu Khalthom Abd Samad imposed four days' jail and RM300 fine each on the couple, Emran Sahat, 55, and Sarida Amat, 46.

If they fail to furnish the fine, they will be jailed for another two days and the jail sentence to take effect from the day of their arrest on March 30.

Emran and his wife had disobeyed an order by a police officer when they took an alternative route to enter Sipitang town after they were instructed to turn back to follow the regulation of only one person to buy groceries.

The offence took place at Jalan Sipitang Bypass Kampung Naparan, Sipitang at 9am on March 30.

They pleaded guilty to a joint charge under Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and punishable under Section 24(a) of the same Act.

The indictment provides for a jail term of up to two years or with fine, or both, upon conviction.

Based on the facts, the couple were moving in a black Proton Saga car to Sipitang town to buy groceries.

They were stopped by a police officer and were ordered to send the wife back home since only one person is allowed to do groceries during the MCO period.

However, the couple took another route, which is the Jalan Sipitang Bypass Kampung Naparan, to Sipitang town instead of turning back and were caught by the police.

For the second case, the court imposed five days jail and a fine of RM500, in default, three days jail on Ambrose Laiwat, 49, for defying the MCO by being at a cemetery at night.

Ambrose had moved from his house in Kampung Madang Pimping, Membakut to Taman Firdaus cemetery area, which is an infected area, with a purpose not listed under Regulation 3 of the Prevention and Control of

Infectious Diseases (Measures Within The Infected Local Area) Regulations 2020.

He was arrested for the offence at 11.30 pm on March 30 at the cemetery.

The offence was punishable under Regulation 7(1) of the Prevention And Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within The Infected Local Area) Regulations 2020, which provides for a fine of up to RM1,000 or a jail term of up to six months, or both, upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, Ambrose was arrested in an Isuzu Trooper vehicle during Ops Covid-19 at the area.

The court also ordered Ambrose to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest.