The Department of Health earlier discovered that someone had submitted false information through the COVID-19 positive result reporting system and referred the case to the police for handling.
After investigation, the police arrested two men and women, aged 24 and 25, on April 19 this year. The woman was sentenced to two weeks of immediate imprisonment last Friday (23rd), while the man was charged with two additional charges of "obstructing the performance of public officials in accordance with the law" and was sentenced today (26th) to a 12-month probation order.
Police welcomed the court rulings in both cases, believing the sentences served as a deterrent.
Liu Zhenyu, Senior Inspector of the Technology Crime Division of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Police, told two cases this afternoon, referring to the government's launch of the "COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test Positive Person Reporting System" on March 7 this year. , for citizens to report positive rapid test results through the system.
Citizens who make a declaration must upload their identification documents and a positive test result certificate on the platform to be considered as a valid declaration case.
The Centre for Health Protection has been using a sampling method to require citizens who report positive results to take nucleic acid tests, during which it was found that someone provided false information on the platform, or uploaded a quick test certificate that does not belong to them.
The CHP then referred the case to the police, and the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau took over the investigation.
After investigation, officers arrested two men and women aged 24 and 25 respectively in Tin Shui Wai and Kwai Chung districts on April 19 this year. They were suspected of submitting false information on the rapid test reporting platform or uploading photos of others who were positive for the rapid test.
Liu Zhenyu continued that the 25-year-old arrested woman pleaded guilty to two counts of "knowingly providing any material false information to a health officer or an authorized officer" at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court last Friday, and was sentenced to two prison terms on the same day. weeks, instant imprisonment.
Another 24-year-old man pleaded guilty in the Eastern Magistrates' Court to one count of "knowingly providing any material false information to a health officer" and two counts of "obstructing the lawful performance of public officials", and was released today. (26) Sentenced to a 12-month probation order.
According to police statistics, since the establishment of the online platform for the reporting system, the Police have received 6 referrals of similar cases from the Department of Health.
