MCO legal proceedings: Only one family member allowed outside courthouse

GEORGE TOWN: Police were alerted when groups of people gathered at the courthouse here on Tuesday (March 31), and they quickly went to see what was happening.

It turned out that these were family members of more than 200 people who were being brought to court on Monday (March 31) to be charged with defying the movement control order (MCO).

"We will only allow one family member to wait for each accused.

And you cannot form group like this. You must stand apart," a policeman told a group of about 40 who had gathered on Light Street.

Members of the public were also not allowed to enter the courthouse.

Some 185 people are expected to be charged today in George Town, Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam courts.

Some of them have spent four days in remand.

Another 19 are expected to be brought to Butterworth court to be served a four-day remand order.

Those being charged with violating the MCO are liable to be fined up to RM1,000 or jailed up to six months or both under Rule 3(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Measures within the Infected Local areas) Regulations 2020.- Star