Gov't denies interference over differing punishment for MCO violators
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government does not interfere in the judiciary amid questions about the disparity in punishments for violating the movement control order (MCO).
"As a democratic country, we practice judicial independence and the government cannot interfere in the decisions of the courts in determining the punishment of any accused.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government does not interfere in the judiciary amid questions about the disparity in punishments for violating the movement control order (MCO).
"As a democratic country, we practice judicial independence and the government cannot interfere in the decisions of the courts in determining the punishment of any accused.
"The government does not interfere, the judiciary has the freedom to decide. Perhaps the facts of the cases are different, I don't know.
"Every case has different facts so the magistrate decides based on them," he told a press conference in Putrajaya this afternoon.
Ismail was asked to respond to certain instances where people were fined the maximum RM1,000 while others received a lower fine.
Earlier today, a single mother reportedly complained about being slapped with a one-month jail term while Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's daughter Nurulhidayah was only given a RM800 fine.
The single mother's sentence was reduced to a fine of RM1,000 after appeal but she had already spent eight days in prison.
Under Section 7(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020, a person violating the MCO can be fined up to RM1,000 or imprisoned up to six months or both.
The MCO first came into force on March 18 with the aim of containing the spread of Covid-19.
Yesterday, Nuruhidayah and her husband Saiful Nizam pleaded guilty to violating the MCO at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court.
Magistrate Shah Wirah Abdul Halim, meted out the RM800 fine each against the duo.
The duo had violated the MCO by travelling from Kajang to the Environment Department in Putrajaya, at the invitation of Deputy Environment and Water Minister Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad at 9am on April 20.
Under the MCO, All non-essential businesses and services were ordered closed and people cannot leave their homes except for approved reasons, such as buying groceries within a 10km radius.
However, the rules were relaxed beginning Monday as the government reopened a large part of the country's economy.
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