Police have charged three people in separate incidents where the accused made false claims regarding COVID 19.
On 18 April, a 41-year-old woman from Girrawheen was charged with Creating False Belief after she allegedly coughed on a staff member and a security guard at a shopping centre in Warwick and told them she had COVID 19. She is due to appear in the Joondalup Magistrates Court on 6 May 2020.
That same day two women were stopped by a security guard at a supermarket in Midland after allegedly stealing items from the store. As the security guard attempted to recover the items it will be further alleged that the women spat at the guard and claimed to have COVID 19.
A 30-year-old woman from Ellenbrook and a 31-year-old woman from Swan View have both been charged with Stealing and Common Assault in Circumstances of Aggravation. They are due to appear in the Midland Magistrates Court on 15 May 2020.
Earlier this month Parliament passed special laws to protect frontline workers from COVID-19 related assaults or threats.
The laws carry a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment for assaults where a person knows they have COVID-19 or creates a belief, suspicion or fear they have COVID-19
Threats to injure, endanger or harm a frontline worker by exposing them to COVID-19 carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.
