Two Koreans fined 280,000 won for violating 'curfew order' in Malaysia

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Two Korean men who were arrested for jogging in violation of the curfew order in Malaysia were each fined 1,000 ringgit (about 280,000 won).

According to the Korean Embassy in Malaysia on the 2nd, a total of 11 people, including two Korean men who were arrested while jogging in the Mont Kiara and Desa Kiara areas of Kuala Lumpur on the morning of the 27th of last month, were found guilty of violating the movement restriction order at the Security Court on the 29th of the same month.

The police arrested and prosecuted four Japanese, two Koreans, two Malaysians, and one each from the UK, the US, and India who were jogging.

The security judge ruled that if the fine of 1,000 ringgit each is not paid, they will be sentenced to one month in prison.

Earlier, the Malaysian government issued a movement restriction order for two weeks from March 18 to 31, and then extended it for another two weeks until April 14. Citizens are basically prohibited from going out except for purchasing daily necessities or visiting hospitals.

When compliance was low at the beginning of the movement restriction order, the Malaysian government deployed armed soldiers along with the police to various locations to arrest violators immediately upon discovery and strictly punish them with imprisonment as well as fines.

The Malaysian military and police blocked 1,547 roads and arrested 700 to 800 people daily for violating the movement restriction order.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia increased by 142 the previous day, totaling 2,908. The death toll stands at 45.