Man Jailed For Four Months For Fleeing Isolation

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2021-02-05 HKT 15:34

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  Li Wan-keung was arrested after he fled isolation in December last year. File photo: RTHK

A man who fled a hospital isolation ward after he was confirmed to have Covid-19 has been jailed for four months.

Li Wan-keung, 63, pleaded guilty to violating anti-epidemic laws in December last year.

He ran away from Queen Elizabeth Hospital and was on the run for two days before police found him with the help of the public.

Li, who wasn't represented by a lawyer, explained to Kowloon City Court that he ran off because he was afraid of needles. He asked for a fine as punishment.

But deputy magistrate Tobias Cheng said Li had been selfish and ignored the safety of others as he could have spread the virus.

The magistrate said the case was serious and a fine would not be appropriate.

He initially handed down a sentence of six months behind bars, but later reduced this to four given Li's guilty plea.

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Last updated: 2021-02-05 HKT 20:02