By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, July 1: Fourteen individuals, including two civil servants, claimed trial to charges of forging RT-PCR Covid-19 test results.
All 14 accused, aged between 20 to 54, pleaded not guilty to the charges framed under Section 471 of the Penal Code.
Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali allowed all accused to be released on RM5,000 bail with one local surety and fixed August 19 for the mention of the case.
They were charged with using a false “RT-PCT Covid-19 Result Slip”, to enter Sarawak from West Malaysia via the Kuching International Airport in February.
They were charged under Section 471 of Penal Code which is punishable under Section 465 of the same Act, which carries a maximum imprisonment term of up to two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) secretariat found that the reference number of the “RT-PCT Covid-19 Result Slip” that all the accused were using had the same reference number. Subsequently, a police report was lodged for the authorities to further investigate the case.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ruthra Raj prosecuted. — DayakDaily
