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Petras J., 30, who lives in the Molėtai district, was tested for COVID-19 in late August, as the company where she worked had been diagnosed with the virus. The next day, the man was informed that he was infected. Health professionals informed him of the self-isolation rules that he agreed to follow.
Although he knew that one of the requirements was to stay in a place of self-isolation, two days later Peter decided to go to a local store to buy cigarettes because he had not attended them in advance.
Later, Peter explained that he did not feel any symptoms of the disease, so he did not think of anything bad: he put on a protective mask, disinfected his hands and left.
Locals informed the old man, who was informed by law enforcement officials, that a person suspected of being infected with the COVID-19 virus had arrived at the store. The information was also confirmed by a video recording from the store’s security camera, which shows Peter buying cigarettes.
The pre-trial investigation in this case was conducted by officials from the Molėtai District Police Station, and the investigation was conducted by the prosecutor G.Čekuolis. Peter J. was charged under article 277 (1) of the Penal Code (“Violation of the rules for the control of epidemics or communicable diseases”). This paragraph establishes that a person who has been informed by a medical institution of his illness and warned of the protection measures that he must take in contact with human beings has endangered another person with a serious or particularly dangerous communicable disease, will be sanctioned with a fine or deprivation of liberty, or arrest or imprisonment for up to one year.
According to prosecutor G. Čekuolis, who led the pre-trial investigation, it had not been established that Peter had infested other people by behaving irresponsibly. If this had happened, he would have faced a fine or arrest, or up to five years in prison.
The prosecutor went to court demanding that the Moletai be punished with a criminal order. On 9 November, the Molėtai Chamber of the Utena District Court confirmed the prosecutor’s statement and sentenced Peter J. to one year in prison. He is also required to work 70 hours of unpaid work in the public interest in his spare time.
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