Coronavirus-infected women accused of lying their way into Queensland are charged and could be jailed for FIVE YEARS - as it's claimed the pair threw a PARTY before leaving Melbourne
- Olivia Winnie Muranga and Diana Lasu arrived in Brisbane on July 21
- All Victorian residents were banned from entering Queensland from July 9
- Queensland on Thursday recorded three new cases, unrelated to the two women
- But the women allegedly entered the Sunshine State by flying via Sydney
- Three women have been charged for providing false information on declarations
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Three women have been charged by police after they allegedly lied their way into Queensland from Victoria.
Olivia Winnie Muranga, Diana Lasu and an unidentified friend arrived together in Brisbane from Melbourne on Tuesday, July 21.
All Victorian residents were banned from entering Queensland from July 9, but the women were able to enter the Sunshine State by stopping off in Sydney.
The women allegedly travelled on Virgin Australia flight 863 from Melbourne to Sydney, to make it appear they hadn't come from Melbourne.
Shortly afterwards they allegedly boarded flight VA 977 to Brisbane.
Ms Muranga and Ms Lasu, as well as one of their immediate family members, on Wednesday became the first three cases of coronavirus in the Queensland community since May.
The test results for the third unidentified traveller who allegedly crossed the border with them have not been released yet.
Queensland Police on Thursday afternoon said three women had been charged for allegedly providing false information on their border declarations.
A 19-year-old Heritage Park woman, a 21-year-old Acacia Ridge woman and a 21-year-old Algester woman were all charged with one count each of providing false or misleading documents and fraud.
The women could be fined $13,345 or sent to jail for a maximum of five years.
Police said the trio are now cooperating with officers and Queensland Health officials.
The women are in quarantine and will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 28.
'There is no further information available at this time in relation to the ongoing criminal investigation,' a statement read.
Olivia Winnie Muranga (left) and Diana Lasu, (right) both 19, arrived together in Brisbane from Melbourne via Sydney on July 21
Ms Muranga allegedly went to work for two days at Parklands Christian College in Park Ridge, south of Brisbane. Pictured are people lining up at the college to get a COVID-19 test after a pop-up clinic was set up on Thursday
The women allegedly travelled on Virgin Australia flight 863 from Melbourne to Sydney, to make it appear like they hadn't come from Melbourne
Police previously alleged the women were lying to investigators about their movements.
'What we have seen in these instances are deliberate acts of deception,' Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.
'The way our borders operate cannot prevent that. It is incredibly important that everyone who comes into Queensland, is accurate in terms of the declaration. In this instance, it is not a matter of identity, there is no false identity.
'It is about not declaring where people have been.'
A police source has meanwhile alleged the teenagers threw a party for about 20 people at their accommodation in Melbourne earlier this month, the Brisbane Times reported.
Victoria Police issued infringement notices to all in attendance at the party after being called to reports of a 'disturbance', the source said.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police were confident everyone who had been to the Melbourne party had now been identified.
Police on Thursday revealed 40 people have been caught lying to authorities while crossing the Queensland border.
Ms Lasu (pictured) and Ms Muranga are accused of making false declarations on their border paperwork
'From the beginning of this, we have issued well over 1,100 infringement notices and 40 people have made false declarations at our borders,' Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said.
Ms Carroll said she was 'very disappointed' with the alleged behaviour of Ms Muranga and Ms Lasu, and their unidentified travel buddy.
She said the three women have been served court notices.
Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said the pair would face court.
It was earlier reported that one of the women cooperated with Queensland authorities in contact tracing since she arrived back in the state.
The second woman had allegedly refused to share details of her travels over the course of the last week.
'I'm very worried about the second individual who has not been cooperative and has not shared where she's been, so we haven't been able to contact those venues,' Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said.
Queensland Police on Thursday said the three women who have been charged are now cooperating with QPS and Queensland Health officials.
Pictured: Olivia Winnie Muranga. She, Ms Lasu and an unidentified family member have become the first people in Queensland to test positive for COVID-19 since May
Legal firm Creevey Russell Lawyers Crime and Misconduct division lawyer Craig van der Hoven said anyone who knowingly transmits COVID-19 without taking precautions could face up to two years behind bars.
Queensland on Thursday recorded three new coronavirus cases, including two linked to a previously identified Sydney cluster.
The pair had dined at the coronavirus-stricken Apollo restaurant and tested positive to the deadly respiratory infection overnight.
They have been praised for choosing to self isolate at home upon returning to Queensland, limiting their risk of contributing to community transmission.
'We've seen that today, its sensible to close the border to anyone from greater Sydney,' Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young agreed.
The third case was a man in his 20s who returned from the United States.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this is 'the best scenario we could have hoped for'.
During the press conference on Thursday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new cases confirmed they made the right decision in closing the borders
The three new cases are unrelated to Ms Muranga and Ms Lasu.
Ms Muranga allegedly went to work for two days at Parklands Christian College in Park Ridge, south of the city, before calling in sick and then going to see a doctor on Saturday, who said to get tested immediately.
Between them the pair visited 11 different venues in Brisbane while infected with COVID-19
Ms Muranga allegedly didn't go for her test until Monday and instead allegedly continued to attend venues in Ipswich and Brisbane, including a Thai restaurant in Springfield on Sunday and a Southbank cocktail bar on Monday.
Authorities have described the border crossing as the 'perfect storm'. They are examining whether the women visited the Free Pentecostal Church of Australia in Springfield.
All aged care homes in Brisbane's Metro South region have been ordered to lock down to stop a potential spread as a result of the women's actions.
Investigators will also probe whether the pair were at party during their stay in Melbourne which was attended by about 20 people.
Ms Muranga works as a cleaner at Parklands Christian College in Park Ridge (pictured), which is functioning as a coronavirus testing facility
The gathering was broken up by police, who issued fines totalling $30,000.
Ms Muranga is a cleaner at Parklands Christian College in Park Ridge.
The school's principal Gary Cully confirmed a coronavirus-infected cleaner worked for three days last week.
'The staff member was on site last week and then rang in sick and then that's when the trace program started,' Mr Cully told The Courier Mail.
'As far as I'm aware they were not symptomatic while they were onsite and then called in sick the following day and then the next week were tested.'
Shopping centres, restaurants, a school, and a church they visited will shut while authorities scramble to conduct contact tracing.
The incident prompted Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to announce all Sydneysiders will be banned from entering the state from Saturday.
People line up in their cars and on foot to get COVID-19 tested at the Parklands Christian College on Wednesday
A man delivers cleaning equipment to a COVID-19 screening clinic at the Parklands Christian College in Logan
'There will be a thorough police investigation here but now we have to act as a community and in the areas where the chief health officer says need to be closed, will be closed and I urge people in those areas when that list goes out later on today to please ensure that if you are feeling sick you must go and get tested,' she said.
Queensland residents returning will have to isolate in a hotel for 14 days at their own expense.
One of the women attended the Orion Springfield Central in Ipswich, south-west of Brisbane, on Sunday where she dined at the Peak Thai restaurant about 6.30pm.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMieWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODU3NTE4NS9Db3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1pbmZlY3RlZC10ZWVuYWdlcnMtbGllZC13YXktUXVlZW5zbGFuZC1oaXQtc2xldy1jaGFyZ2VzLmh0bWzSAX1odHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTg1NzUxODUvYW1wL0Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWluZmVjdGVkLXRlZW5hZ2Vycy1saWVkLXdheS1RdWVlbnNsYW5kLWhpdC1zbGV3LWNoYXJnZXMuaHRtbA?oc=5
2020-07-30 07:58:07Z
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