COVID-19 patient who spat on PHIs given six years RI

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Panadura Magistrate Chandana Kalansuriya yesterday sentenced 52-year-old Mohammad Amir to six years rigorous imprisonment for spitting on PHIs who tried to take him to a COVID-19 treatment centre. The incident took place on 02 December 2020.

The Magistrate also imposed a fine of Rs 100, 000 on the suspect, who was ordered to pay four persons, including two PHIs Rs 100,000 each. Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said if Amir failed to pay the compensation of Rs. 400,000, his jail term would be extended by another two years.

The suspect is a resident of Marawa, Atalugama.

Bandaragama Police charged him on eight counts.

The PHIs visited the suspect’s home on 02 December to hospitalise him after a PCR test found him positive for coronavirus. The suspect then verbally abused the health workers, opened the door of the cab in which they were travelling and spat at them.

The suspect was arrested on 04 December 2020.

The President of the Public Health Inspectors’ Association Upul Rohana told The Island that he welcomed the judgment.

In December Rohana said that the PHIs would boycott COVID-19 prevention programmes at Atalugama unless they were given military protection.

Rohana said that a number of such incidents had taken place there previously as well.