One woman from Logan City, one from Acacia Ridge, and one from Algester have faced court today charged with fraud, after they allegedly lied to police and health officials when returning from Melbourne in July.
Two of the three women tested positive to coronavirus after their trip to the covid hotspot.
The women, all aged between 20 and 21, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning (Monday September 28).
While in Melbourne, the trio was fined for breaking Covid-19 restrictions, by allegedly organising a party of more than 30 people at the Airbnb they were staying at.
Two days later, it is alleged the women lied to authorities to get back into Queensland, meaning they did not have to isolate.
It is understood, the two women infected with coronavirus travelled freely around the Logan City community for eight days, until they were stopped by authorities and placed under police guard in hospital.
In July, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said she was “bitterly disappointed” Queensland had been put at risk.
“They went to extraordinary lengths to be deceitful and deceptive and quite frankly criminal in their behaviour and that is what has put the community at risk,” she said.
Earlier this month, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said at least one of the women was “most likely” the primary source of the state’s recent COVID clusters.
Multiple people have contracted the virus at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, the nearby Wacol prison training academy, and the Ipswich Hospital.
Five years’ jail time is the maximum penalty for the fraud charge. The maximum fine for providing false or misleading documents is $13,345.
Two of the women’s matters from Brisbane Magistrates Court today were adjourned until October 28, and the third matter was adjourned until October 21.
