Kota Kinabalu: An American and a woman who went jogging during the the Movement Control Order (MCO) were fined RM500 or a month’s jail each for violating the order.
The American Marcus Jean Francois, 28, and Regina Ho Su Fui, 30, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to the charge against them on Thursday.
The duo had breached the MCO by being in an infected area under Regulation 3 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Steps in the Infected Areas) 2020.
The offence took place at 5.20pm on April 2 in front of Taman Paddy View, Penampang.
The offence under the Regulation 7(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Steps in the Infected Areas) 2020, provides for a jail of up to six months, or fine of up to RM1,000, or both on conviction.
During mitigation, counsel Ram Singh who defended the duo asked for a fine of RM200 only saying that his clients were living at the area.
Ram informed the court that it was the duo’s first offence.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Rustam Sanip urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence.
The court heard that the duo were found jogging in the area following a complaint from the public.
Police went to the said area and saw a woman jogging in front of a house.
The police then detained the woman later identified as Regina and few minutes later an American identified as Marcus then came, informed the police that he was together with Regina.
The duo were brought to Penampang police station and further investigation showed they had breached the MCO.
In the same court, another seven people admitted to also breaching the MCO.
Ramdan Abdul Aziz, 35, and Faizal Halim, 40, violated the order by moving from Kg Inanam Laut to Lorong Inanam without resonable excuse on Apr 7.
They were ordered by the court to carry out Compulsory Attendance Order (CAO) for three months each and the order must be carried out four hours daily.
Failure to carry out the CAO, would mean three months in prison.
Another man, Mohd Akbar Busra, 36, also was ordered to perform CAO for three months in default three months’ jail for being at the Dataran Deasoka, here at 12.10am on Apr 8, during the MCO.
Siti Aisyah Osman was fined RM800 or two months’ jail for moving from her house in Kg Likas to Lido, Penampang on Apr 6 at 12.11pm and that she had breached the MCO.
Another three - IMM13 holder Elisen Abdul Rasan, 39, Harfan Haryadie, 26, and Yusuf Hasan, 31- were found moving from Jalan UMS to Kg Suang Parai, Manggatal during the MCO on Apr 7.
Elisen was jailed a week while, Yusuf was fined RM500 or spend a month in prison.
The court ordered Elisen and Yusuf to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving thier jail sentence or paying fine.
While, Harfan was ordered to undergo CAO for three months in default three months’ jail and the order must be carried out four-hours daily.
