GEORGE TOWN – Twenty-five Bangladesh citizens have been fined a total of RM125,000 for flouting Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) during Hari Raya Aidiladha on Tuesday, ruled the sessions court here.
All the 25 accused, aged between 23 and 41, pleaded guilty after the charge was read in Bahasa Melayu before judge Norsalha Datuk Hamzah.
According to the charge sheet, all of them were alleged to have gathered with others for social purposes in a house in Taman Desa Mutiara in Batu Maung at 9pm on Tuesday.
The offense was charged in accordance with Regulation 10(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures in Local Areas of Infection) Regulations P.U (A) 293/2021.
It provides for a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both, upon conviction.
Norsalha then imposed a fine of RM5,000 on each accused, and if they failed to pay, each would be jailed for two months.
The court was also told that all the accused worked as construction workers under one company but only 21 of them had valid identity documents.
Deputy public prosecutor Rais Imran Hamid represented the prosecution while the 21 accused were represented by lawyers provided by their employer Muhammad Arif Shaharuddin.
It is understood that the accused gathered for a feast together to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha before their home was raided by police after public complaints. – The Vibes, July 23, 2021
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