Punished for concealing travel history

ALOR SETAR: The first person in the country to be charged with concealing his travel history during screening for Covid-19 was sentenced to three months’ community service by a Magistrate’s Court here.

Omar Mat Khatib, 31, a postman with Singapore Post Limited, pleaded guilty to violating Rule 6 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020 at about noon on March 26 at the Pendang district health clinic’s Covid-19 screening counter.

He admitted to failing to provide necessary information about his trip back to Malaysia from Singapore to health officer Mohamad Syazwan Mohd Esa.

Omar, who is from Kampung Bukit Mak Inson in Pendang, Kedah, was ordered by magistrate Siti Nor Hidayah Mohd Noor to serve three months’ community service in default three months’ jail effective yesterday.

He was ordered to carry out three hours of community service and report to the Pendang district parole officer daily.

Under Rule 6 of the Regulations, the offence is punishable with a fine of not more than RM1,000 or a maximum jail term of six months or both if convicted.

Magistrate Siti Nor, however, offered Omar the choice of three months’ jail or community service, and he opted for the latter.

It is learnt that Omar returned to Malaysia from Singapore on March 18 after the Malaysian government implemented the movement control order (MCO).

Upon returning to Pendang, he developed flu and fever and went to the Pendang district health clinic on March 26, but failed to inform Syazwan about his trip from Singapore.

Omar was represented by Zuriyah Mohd Nordin from the National Legal Aid Foundation, while deputy public prosecutor Fatin Dalilah Khalid appeared for the prosecution.