20s Man Sentenced to Prison for False Report Claiming Contact with COVID-19 Confirmed Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] A man in his 20s who lied about having contact with a Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji) member and underwent testing for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has been sentenced to prison.

The Suwon District Court Criminal Division 12 (Judge Kim Joo-hyun) announced on the 9th that it sentenced A (28) to two years in prison on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act and obstruction of official duties by deception.

The court stated the sentencing rationale, saying, "In the nationwide public health crisis caused by COVID-19, acts that obstruct the work of responsible officials through false reports, like the defendant, are intolerable serious crimes that require strict punishment."

A was previously prosecuted for making a false report to 119 around 10 a.m. on February 21 while on a bus traveling on a highway in Jeongan-myeon, Gongju-si, Chungnam Province, claiming, "I went to the Daegu Shincheonji Church and had contact with the '31st COVID-19 patient,' and I have symptoms of coughing and fever."

It was investigated that A gave false statements to firefighters that day, saying, "On February 16, the day a confirmed COVID-19 patient visited the Daegu Shincheonji Church, I talked with 5 to 6 believers for 4 to 5 hours."

Additionally, A was indicted on charges of using a business motorcycle and fuel check card for purposes other than intended and not returning them to the owner after being employed as a food delivery worker on the 23rd of the same month.

After being caught following the owner's report, A falsely stated during police investigation that "I visited the Daegu Shincheonji Church, underwent COVID-19 testing, and am subject to self-quarantine."

Investigations revealed that he had neither visited Daegu nor had contact with any confirmed COVID-19 patients on February 16.

A reportedly stated that he did it for fun after watching a video titled "COVID-19 prank call" on a video content sharing site (YouTube).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.