Violating COVID-19 Quarantine And Spreading Virus, Vietnamese Man Sentenced To Five Years In Prison

Ilustrasi rapid test for COVID-19 di Vietnam. (Wikimedia Commons/Law Television)

JAKARTA - Vietnam jailed a man on Monday for five years, for violating strict COVID-19 quarantine rules and spreading the virus to others, state media reported.

Le Van Tri, 28, was convicted of "spreading a dangerous infectious disease" in a one-day trial at the People's Court of the southern province of Ca Mau, the state-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

Vietnam has become one of the world's top coronavirus success stories, thanks to targeted mass testing, aggressive contact tracing, and strict restrictions and quarantines. However, a wave of infections since April marred that success.

"Tri traveled back to Ca Mau from Ho Chi Minh City and violated the 21-day quarantine rule", the news agency said, citing Reuters Tuesday, September 7.

"Tri infected eight people, one of whom died from the virus after one month of treatment", the report continued. Reuters could not immediately reach the Ca Mau court for comment.

Ca Mau, Vietnam's southernmost province has reported just 191 cases and two deaths since the pandemic began, far lower than the nearly 260.000 cases and 10.685 deaths in the country's coronavirus epicenter, Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam is battling a worsening COVID-19 outbreak that has infected more than 536.000 people, killing 13.385, most of them in recent months.

Previously, Vietnam had sentenced two other people to prison terms suspended for 18 months and two years on the same charges in March. One of them is a Vietnam Airlines flight attendant.

During Tuesday's trial, March 30, Duong Tan Hau, 29, was convicted of 'spreading a dangerous infectious disease', during a trial at the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court.

Hau violated the country's 14-day quarantine regulations and met 46 other people after his flight from Japan in November, according to the indictment posted on the police ministry's website.

Hau had mingled with others while in state quarantine and was accused of visiting cafes, restaurants and attending English classes while he was supposed to be self-isolating. He tested positive for COVID-19 on November 28.

Hau's offense resulted in the quarantine and testing of about 2.000 other people in the city at a cost of 4.48 billion dong (approximately USD 194.192), the indictment said. State media said he had infected at least three other people.

"Hau's offense was very serious, endangering the public and endangering public safety", the statement said at the time.