56 y.o security officer Burhanto Rejo was sentenced to five months and two weeks of imprisonment for leaving home after testing positive for Covid-19.
He went to a licensed money lender at Hougang, Goldstar Credit, to take up a loan for Hari Raya Puasa.
When asked to filled in a visitor declaration form, he falsely declared that he did not have any ARI symptoms and that he was feeling well.
The charges brought against him which he pleaded guilty to were a count of breaking Covid-19 laws because he left his place of residence without a valid reason and another count of cheating which was taken into consideration.
What happened
Burhanto worked at a dormitory at Tanah Merah Coast Road which was a cluster and eventually contracted the virus.
He fell ill and developed symptoms like fever, chest pains, loss of appetite and taste and blurred vision on May 18 last year, and proceeded to see a doctor at Yishun Polyclinic on May 22.
The doctor issued him a five days MC and Stay Home Notice after examining him and giving his diagnosis.
Burhanto acknowledged this and was in the knowledge that he needed to stay at home according to the law.
Received his positive test results
Burhanto received his positive test results the following day and was instructed to stay at home, isolate himself and wait for an ambulance to convey him.
He received another call few hours later to inform him of the arrival time of the ambulance, his admission details and things to bring along.
Worried that his family will not have enough money to spend during Hari Raya Puasa, he took a Grab to Hougang to take up a loan.
He was still waiting for his turn at the loan office when he was informed by his sister that the ambulance had arrived at his place and he had received numerous calls from Khoo Teck Puat hospital and the ambulance driver.
His actions also caused the loan company to spend $600 for deep cleaning of its premises and the people he had contact with while out such as the loan officer, grab driver and taxi driver to receive two weeks of quarantine order.
Burhanto would start his jail term on November 22.
He could have been jailed up to six months, fined up to $10,000 or both for his offence.
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