'Bright Red' COVID-19 Lies... The End Is Severe Punishment

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Cases of lying to health authorities related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been occurring frequently. Judicial authorities regard false statements as acts that hinder COVID-19 prevention efforts and have announced plans to impose severe punishments.

A representative case involved a female employee at a nightlife establishment in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, who made false statements during a COVID-19 epidemiological investigation by claiming she "was at home." The Gangnam Police Station in Seoul sent A (36) to the prosecution on the 16th with a recommendation for indictment on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

A concealed the fact that she worked at a nightlife establishment after testing positive for COVID-19 and falsely told health authorities that she "was at home." A, who had contact with Yoon Hak (36, real name Jeong Yun-hak), the leader of the idol group 'Supernova,' in March, was diagnosed with COVID-19 on April 2.

During the epidemiological investigation by the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center, A falsely stated that she stayed at home from 8 p.m. on March 27 to 4 a.m. the next day, hiding the fact that she worked at the establishment. After discovering that A had gone to work contrary to her statement, Gangnam-gu reported her to the police last month, and she was eventually referred to the prosecution.

On the 6th, a man in his 20s who lied about visiting the Shincheonji Daegu Church to get a COVID-19 test was sentenced to prison. Judge Kim Joo-hyun of the Suwon District Court Criminal Division 12 sentenced B (28), who was charged with violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act and obstruction of official duties by deception, to two years in prison.

Judge Kim explained the sentencing by stating, "In the nationwide public health crisis caused by COVID-19, acts like the defendant's false reporting that obstruct the work of responsible officials are intolerable serious crimes that require strict punishment."

B was charged after calling 119 from a bus on the highway in February, falsely reporting, "I went to the Daegu Shincheonji Church and came into contact with the '31st COVID-19 patient,' and I have symptoms of coughing and fever." The fire department dispatched an ambulance to transfer B to the public health center, where a COVID-19 test was conducted. The test result was negative.

Investigations revealed that B had not visited the Shincheonji Daegu Church but falsely stated to the public health center that "a friend told me to come to the Shincheonji Daegu Church," and that "I talked with the '31st COVID-19 patient' there." It was reported that B committed this act after watching videos of some YouTubers making prank calls related to COVID-19 and finding them amusing.

C (25), who was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 9th of last month, is under police investigation for hiding her status as a private academy instructor and falsely claiming to be "unemployed" during the initial epidemiological investigation. It was confirmed that C visited places such as clubs in Itaewon, Seoul, on the 2nd and 3rd of last month. Incheon City reported C to the police, stating that her false statements obstructed the epidemiological investigation and caused the spread of COVID-19.

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