Sabah Siblings Arrested for Fleeing With Father’s Body From Hospital Quarantine Centre

Four siblings were arrested by the police in Kampung Panji, Lahad Datu after they took their deceased father’s body back home who was suspected to be Covid-19 positive from Hospital Lahad Datu.

The incident happened around 8.30pm yesterday (21 January) when the hospital staff received an unconscious man who was then isolated under the PUI (Person Under Superveillance) tent.

When the 58-year-old patient was in the tent, he was given CPR for about 30 minutes before he was pronounced dead by a medical officer. Lahad Datu District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Rohan Shah Ahmad told Astro Awani that the medical officer explained the funeral management procedure during the Covid-19 crisis to the heirs and the need for a Covid-19 screening test on the deceased to prevent any infection.

However, the patient’s children refused to leave their father who had a history of brain disease and stroke. Instead, they chose to bring their father’s body back home.

Based on the information they received and further investigation, the police managed to arrest the suspects around 11.30pm on the same day. The siblings, aged between 26 and 31 years old, consisted of one woman and three men.

Rohan explained that the case is being investigated under Section 270 of the Penal Code and Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 198.

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