Fake COVID-19 PCR results worry police
Pini Bothoko | Sunday January 9, 2022 13:44
The Botswana Police Service (BPS) has announced that 56 Batswana and 15 foreigners have been arrested and charged for producing fake PCR COVID-19 test results, appearing to be from government hospitals and private health facilities.
It is mandatory to present COVID-19 PCR test results when crossing the border, the police have observed that some people choose to forge the results, to illegally facilitate their border exit instead of acquiring them from legitimate health facilities.
BPS' s public relations officer, Senior Superintendent, Near Bagali, shared that fake COVID-19 test results torment Ramatlabama police. He said they have observed that a considerable number of Batswana and foreigners continue to produce fake COVID-19 test results.
Bagali said a total of 19 offenders have since been arraigned before Lobatse Magistrates Court on different dates with penalties ranging from P500 to P3000.
"Others were sentenced to imprisonment terms between 12 months and 18months wholly suspended on condition that they are not convicted of a similar offense during the suspension," Bagali said.
However, for a while now there has been a public outcry across social media platforms that PCR test prices are high. Members of the public have been pleading with private health facilities to reduce prices. Currently a PCR test ranges between P500 and P800.