50s Arrested and Indicted for Pretending to Be a 'COVID-19' Patient to Avoid Paying for Food

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Sharon] The Changwon District Prosecutors' Office Criminal Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Kim Wonji) announced on the 17th that A (52), who pretended to be a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) at a restaurant, has been arrested and indicted on charges of fraud and obstruction of official duties by deception.

A is accused of obstructing the duties of police officers and firefighters by lying at a restaurant in Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam on the 7th that "I was diagnosed with COVID-19 at a hospital in Daegu but refused treatment and ran away" in order to avoid paying for a meal.

The police officers from Gimhae Jungbu Police Station who responded at the time were quarantined until the next day due to concerns about COVID-19 infection and were unable to properly respond to 112 emergency calls. The firefighters were also dispatched due to the police report, interfering with rescue and emergency medical services.

A prosecution official stated, "It has been identified that A pretended to be a confirmed COVID-19 case and dined without paying in Seoul, Chuncheon, Chungju, Changnyeong, and Changwon from February last month when COVID-19 spread until recently," adding, "A underwent COVID-19 tests five times but all results were negative."

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