Sabah police nab 10 villagers who fled Covid-19 testing and quarantine

KOTA KINABALU: Ten out of the 69 people who fled from Kg Pondo, Pulau Gaya on Tuesday (July 6) have been recaptured at work.

The 10, who were fishmongers and market workers, were arrested on Wednesday (July 7), said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali.

He said those who fled were wanted as they were close contacts of Covid-19 patients and were supposed to follow health officials for further swab tests and quarantine.

Hazani said the 69 were found to have gone missing when authorities went to bring them to a quarantine and treatment centre.

“Security forces are searching for the rest of the escapees,” he said.

He said police were monitoring the main routes from the water villages on Pulau Gaya.

Hazani issued a warning to the escapees to return to the island and report to the authorities if they do not wish to face legal action.

Kg Pondo is among four villages within the Pulau Gaya locality which will be under the enhanced MCO from Thursday (July 8).

The other three villages are Kg Kasuapan, Kg Lok Urai and Kg Pulau Gaya.

These localities had a total of 215 Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday.