Man Who Started COVID-19 Sivagangga Cluster In Kedah Has Been Fined And Jailed

All it takes is one irresponsible person to start a chain reaction during the pandemic or even worse, a new cluster just when things are improving.

In July, a nasi kandar shop owner in Napoh, Kedah was responsible for the birth of the Sivagangga Cluster after he flouted his Home Surveillance Order (HSO) or home quarantine upon returning to Malaysia from India.

This caused a major backlash amongst Malaysians who lobbied for a more severe punishment for his actions.

And today, he got his punishment.

Pemilik kedai nasi kandar di Napoh yang terbabit dengan kluster Sivagangga dipenjara lima bulan dan denda RM12,000 - DPP
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) August 13, 2020

Nezar Mohamed Sabur Batcha, 57, was sentenced to five months jail and slapped with a RM12,000 fine after being found guilty of breaching his HSO as reported by The Star.

The permanent resident pleaded guilty on Thursday (13 August) at the Alor Setar Magistrate Court.

Authorities have also ordered his shop, Nasi Kandar Salleh Napoh, to be shuttered permanently.

According to Health Director General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the Sivangangga Cluster has recorded 45 positive cases so far and the person responsible for it might be a super spreader as the virus strain had a faster rate of transmission compared to other clusters in Malaysia.

Let’s hope that this event will serve as a reminder to others to be more responsible during the COVID-19 pandemic.