Ralph MacIntosh charged with breaching Emergency Management Act by partying at nightclub after Covid diagnosis
The teen from one of SA’s wealthiest families who allegedly flouted a Covid quarantine order to party at city nightclub Loverboy has been released on bail.
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A young man has been charged for allegedly visiting a popular city nightclub after authorities told him to immediately quarantine because he was Covid-19 positive.
Police on Tuesday arrested Ralph MacIntosh, 19, of Kensington Park, for allegedly flouting legal directions.
He will face the Adelaide Magistrates Court in February charged with breaching South Australia’s Emergency Management Act.
Mr MacIntosh, from one of the state’s wealthiest families, is accused of visiting Loverboy nightclub, on Hindley St, instead of undertaking 14 days of quarantine.
SA Health had messaged him at 10.18pm on Friday, December 17, notifying him of his positive Covid-19 result and warned he was “required by law to isolate immediately”.
In a statement on Tuesday, police said: “It will be alleged the man remained at a city nightclub and did not quarantine after being informed by SA Health that he had returned a positive Covid-19 test.”
SA Health identified the CBD club as a close contact exposure site, which forced 150 patrons and staff into quarantine.
Covid-19 detectives from SA Police’s Licensing Enforcement Branch arrested Mr MacIntosh early on Tuesday after he had spent almost a fortnight recovering in the CBD’s Tom’s Court medi-hotel.
Mr MacIntosh, who has expressed remorse to friends, was charged with failing to comply with directions under the emergency management laws.
“The failure without a reasonable excuse to comply with a direction given in accordance with the Emergency Management Act 2004 during a major emergency amounts to a criminal offence,” a police spokesman said.
Mr MacIntosh, who attended Pembroke School and St Peter’s College before moving to Geelong Grammar, could face a maximum penalty of a $20,000 fine or two years’ jail if convicted of the offence.
The teen was initially refused police bail, leaving him facing a night at the City Watch House before a first court appearance today.
But after his prominent criminal lawyer, Stephen Ey, sought a review on his bail conditions, the decision was then overturned. He was granted police bail a few hours later and will front court in February.
Wearing a red rugby jumper and blue shorts while holding a mobile to his ear, Mr MacIntosh refused to comment as he left the watch house just after 10am on Tuesday.
He was met by a female relative who tried to shield him from cameras.
“I won’t be answering any questions, thanks guys,” he said before leaving in a late model silver Mercedes Benz 4WD.
He was bailed to a relative’s eastern suburbs home but it is believed he will seek to change it to his family’s Adelaide Hills address.
His mother is part of the Michell pastoralist family, which owns Australia’s oldest and largest wool export company.
There are no allegations being levelled against the family or the 151-year-old company.
Mr Ey said he had no public comment while he assessed the police allegations.
“It has been a stressful time for everybody,” Mr Ey said.
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