KUCHING: Police have issued a total of 1,987 compounds across Sarawak from Mar 18 (enforcement of the movement control order — MCO) to Aug 31.
The compounds were issued for various offenses committed under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures in Local Infected Areas) Regulations 2020 throughout the state.
Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said that of the figure, 1,516 of them have been paid (76.29 percent) while the remaining have exceeded the payment period.
“For cases that have exceeded the payment period, 303 investigation papers were opened and 231 of them was referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s (DPP) office, while 72 cases are still under investigation.
“In connection to that, 139 investigation papers have obtained permission to charge from the DPP and 129 papers have been registered in court.
“To date, 103 cases have been prosecuted where 17 cases (16.50 percent) were fined with an overall fine of RM14,200,” the committee said in a statement.
SDMC explained further that seven offenders were sentenced to prison for failing to settle the compound, one offender was ordered to serve the “Compulsory Attendance Order” sentence under Section 5 (b), Offenders Compulsory Attendance Act 1954.
Five offenders are ordered to serve “Bond Of Good Behaviour” sentence for a year and if they fail to comply, they will be fined RM1,000.
While ten more cases were discharged not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) by the Magistrate on grounds that the offender cannot be detected or the summons cannot be executed to the person sued.
The committee told that those found to be in breach of any provision under Section 3 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342), they may be liable to a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or a jail term not exceeding six months, or both.
“Police will continue to monitor and enforce the SOPs including the use of face masks and social distancing in public places. As a result, seven compounds were issued last Thursday (Oct 1) to errant individuals for failing to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in public places — six in Miri and one in Sarikei.
“Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government issued 131 verbal, written, and seizure warnings in areas under the supervision of various local councils,” SDMC said.
On the SOP compliance monitoring, patrol teams have inspected 1,591 premises throughout Sarawak.
These include 317 restaurants, supermarkets (197), banks (112), public markets (69), places of worship (64), hawker stalls (50), government offices (46), leisure places (35), construction sites (12), five factories, and others (684).
Under Ops Benteng, SDMC informed that a total of 1,214 vehicles were inspected at six roadblocks in five districts — two in Lundu and one each in Bau, Serian, Sri Aman, and Lubok Antu.
