GEORGE TOWN, March 27 — Five men who went for a beer-drinking session together while hiding in a side lane beside a florist were arrested for violating the movement control order (MCO), said Northeast District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong.
In the 10am incident, the five men — four Malaysians and one Indian national — were gathered together holding cans of alcohol at the narrow side lane off Burma Road when authorities chanced upon them.
“They were immediately arrested and four of them will be brought to the court for a remand order,” he said.
The Indian national failed to show legal travel documentation and will be remanded for 14 days by the Immigration Department, he added.
The case will be investigated under Section 269 of the Penal Code for committing a negligent act likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life.
The section carries with it a jail sentence of up to six months or with fine or both, upon conviction.
They will also be investigated under Section 7(1) Prevention of control of infectious diseases (Measures within the infected local areas) Regulations 2020 for violating the MCO.
Yesterday, police arrested seven men who were playing football and jogging in a field along DS Ramanathan Road and they have been remanded for four days from today.
So far, in Penang, five men have been charged and one man was jailed 10 days and fined RM1,000 for violating the MCO.
