A Woman in Her 50s Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison in First Trial for Violating Self-Quarantine and Making False Statements

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A woman in her 50s who left her self-quarantine location and gave false statements to health authorities was sentenced to prison.

According to the court on the 13th, Judge Koo Ja-kwang of the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 8 sentenced Ms. A to six months in prison on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

Ms. A was notified by health authorities that she was subject to self-quarantine after coming into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in July last year. However, around 8 p.m. on the day of notification, she left her residence and was found to have eaten sandwiches with an acquaintance at a bakery in Songpa-gu. Ms. A tested positive for COVID-19 the following day.

She also told health authorities that before quarantine, she "traveled to the mountains and the sea with her daughter, bringing food from home, and slept at a sauna," but investigations revealed that during that period, she took the SRT to Gwangju and spent time with several family members.

Judge Koo stated, "As a confirmed COVID-19 patient, she should have provided more accurate information about her movements to prevent the spread, but she continued to give false statements during the epidemiological investigation." Ms. A filed an appeal against the first trial verdict.