KK youth fined RM500 for breaching MCO

Kota Kinabalu: A 20-year-old was fined RM500 or a week’s jail for breaching Rule 3(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Area) Regulations 2020.

Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie meted out the sentence to Mohammad Afiq Bin Asbudi after he pleaded guilty.

Mohammad had committed the offence by failing to give a reasonable excuse to the police when he and other youths gathered at the infected area.

The offence took place at 6.05pm on April 14, 2020 at Taman Fajar Manggatal area, here.

The offence under the Rule 3(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020 which is punishable under Rule 11(1) of the same Regulations carries a fine of up to RM1,000 or a jail term of to six months, or both, upon conviction.

The court heard that on the said day, a team of policemen conducted the crime prevention and monitoring of the Movement Control Order under Ops Covid-19 in the area.

The team saw a group of youths and one of them was Mohamad.

Mohammad could not give a reasonable explanation as to why they gathered at the area.

A compound of RM1,000 was issued to Mohammad but he could not pay within the 14 days and his case was brought to court.

Prosecuting Officer John Raynold Achon from the Health Department appeared for the prosecution while Mohammad was not represented.