Three drivers have been arrested and charged under Section 25 of the natural disaster management law for transporting 25 workers from a garment factory in Hlinethaya Township, Yangon Region, to Debayin Township, Sagaing Region, without having Covid-19 free certificates. 

Drivers Kaung Zaw Tun, Lut Lat Maung and Wai Yan Aung tried to transport the 25 factory workers in three cars on their return to the native place in Hsatpyayin Village, Debayin Township, on the night of October 11.  They were stopped and checked by a combined inspection team at Theegon toll gate at 285th mile on Yangon-Mandalay Expressway. Then the drivers were found to have no Covid-19 free certificates. 

Police Inspector Saw Shwe Maung filed a case against the drivers at Myoma Police Station on October 12. 

“When we stopped the cars, the drivers were found wearing PPE suits. But their suits were not systematically worn. They had no logos of any social organization. The passengers on board the cars were working at a garment factory in Hlinethaya Township. With factory closure and hostel rents, they decided to return to their native place and hired the cars. There are 20 women and five men. But all of them are just over 20 years of age. At the toll gate, doctors tested the drivers with rapid test kits. As they tested negative, they were sent to the quarantine center at Basic Education High School No.1. The 25 passengers were transported to their village under the arrangement of the township administrator. Meiktila did not allow them to enter the town. On October 12 afternoon, they had to return,” said a witness. 

Police Major Tun Tun from Meiktila Police Station said the drivers had been detained and remanded in custody.