The police arrested 11 joggers of various nationalities, including two Malaysians, in Mont Kiara today for flouting the movement control order (MCO) currently enforced nationwide.
City police chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said all 11 suspects were detained while jogging during a routine police patrol around Jalan Mont Kiara and Jalan Desa Kiara in Kuala Lumpur between 7.30am and 9.30am.
According to Mazlan, the breakdown of the remaining suspects is as follows: United Kingdom (one), United States (one), Japan (four), South Korea (two) and India (one).
“All of them were arrested while jogging and found to have been disobeying the MCO.
“Those arrested also refused to heed to police warnings and advice while providing unreasonable excuses as to why they were outdoors,” he said in a statement.
The arrests come after photos and videos showing people — presumably residents of the area — jogging in the outdoors in apparent defiance of the MCO went viral and subsequently led to public backlash.
Mazlan said all of the suspects have had their statements taken in accordance with Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code and were granted bail after the investigation process.
“The investigation papers will be forwarded to the Office of the Deputy Public Prosecutor further action,” he said.
All of the suspects were investigated under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020 which carries a fine of RM1,000, or imprisonment up to six months, or both if convicted.
The suspects were also investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant from discharging their public duties which carries a punishment of imprisonment not more than two years, or a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or both.
Mazlan also said the police hoped that all parties would obey the MCO for the sake of breaking the Covid-19 infection chain.
Those with any inquiries or information may contact the hotline of Polis Kuala Lumpur at 03-21159999 or any nearest police station.
Meanwhile, five men were sentenced to three months’ jail each by the Magistrates’ Court today for criminal violence against a policeman who was conducting his duty to prevent the spread of COVID-19, following the Movement Control Order (MCO), effective March 18.
Magistrate M Saravanan sentenced D Candran, 38, K Kandasamy, 50, D Thavachilan, 34, D Gunalan, 39, and D Ravintran, 36, after they pleaded guilty to the charges which were read to them.
The court ordered all the accused to serve their jail terms starting today.
They had used criminal violence by throwing cans of liquor and arguing with Lance Corporal Mohd Adnin Che Ani in the course of performing his duties as a civil servant.
They were all charged with the offence at the Food Truck Site, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2, Taman Tun Dr Ismail at 5 pm, March 25, under Section 353 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum jail term of two years or with fines or both, if found guilty.
According to the facts of the case, on the day of the incident the victim was with his partner patrolling the area and advised a group of men, who were drinking alcohol, to avoid gathering in the open.
The victim ordered all of the accused to present their identity cards, however, two of the accused threw cans of liquor at him while another recorded the situation using his cellphone.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdul Khaliq Nazeri called for an appropriate punishment in the form of a deterrent sentence for their offences during the MCO and to show the public that the court would not compromise especially during the current state of affairs in the country.
The five accused, represented by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation, Erni Ahmad, appealed for light sentences as they were each supporting a wife and family.
Another man, B Pavitrn, 23, was fined RM1,000 or two months in jail after pleading guilty to moving from a residential area in Danau Murni to a supermarket, a place in the area of infection without the intention of doing anything provided under Section 7(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020, at 3.20 am today (March 27).
The accused was charged under Section 7 (1) of the same regulation, which provides for a maximum fine of RM1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both, upon conviction.