Photo via Malaysiakini
Sabah police have arrested four siblings in Lahad Datu, after they ran away with their father’s body, after hospital staff told them about COVID-19 SOPs for funerals amid the pandemic.
The incident occurred after their 58-year-old father passed away at the patient under investigation (PUI) zone camp at Lahad Datu Hospital, on Wednesday (January 20th).
Lahad Datu district police chief ACP Rohan Shah Ahmad said the patient was then isolated in the PUI zone camp and given emergency breathing assistance for 30 minutes by medical officers.
“The patient, however, died and medical officers explained the standard operating procedure for funeral arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic to the siblings, including Covid-19 screenings to eliminate the risk of infection,” he said.
It’s understood that the siblings then refused to leave their father's body at the hospital and escaped by pushing the body trolley out of the PUI zone camp, taking the body back to their home in Kampung Panji Laut.
“A team of police from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) managed to locate all the suspects with the assistance of the Lahad Datu Hospital's forensics unit, and the body was found in the living room of the house,” said Rohan.
The siblings have been remanded for three days and the case is being investigated under Section 270 of the Penal Code for performing a malignant act likely to spread the infection of a dangerous disease, as well as Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Our thoughts go out to the victim’s family.
by Kyle Roshen Jacob
