Valentine’s Day riot suspects are Covid-19 positive

 

Of the nine suspects who were arrested after the riot over a woman, two have been found to be Covid-19 positive and another is showing symptoms.

KUCHING: Two men nabbed for allegedly being involved in the Valentine’s Day riot at Plaza Chong Lin, Green Road, have tested positive for Covid-19.

Sarawak police commissioner Aidi Ismail said the two suspects, aged 20 and 34, have been handed over to the health ministry.

He said nine suspects, aged between 20 and 35, were nabbed on Monday and had undergone the Covid-19 swab test the same day.

“Two of them were found to be positive while one suspect needs to undergo a second test as he is showing symptoms. The remaining six suspects tested negative,” he said.

Meanwhile, police personnel from Gita, Sekama and Tabuan Jaya police stations who had come into contact with the suspects, have also gone for the swab test immediately, he said.

He said the health department has taken the necessary action; including quarantining police personnel.

Sarawak Health Director Dr Chin Zin Hing said his department has begun contact tracing to identify and to test all the close contacts.

The nine suspects, armed with machetes and a samurai sword, allegedly got in a fight over a woman on Valentine’s Day at around 5pm. They were nabbed the next day and investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for possessing weapons and rioting. - FMT