Women at centre of COVID outbreak charged

Three young women charged with lying about visiting virus-riddled Melbourne hosted a drunken party at their Airbnb property that was shut down by Victorian police.

Three women charged with lying about visiting virus-riddled Melbourne hosted a drunken party at their Airbnb property that was shut down by Victorian police.

Olivia Winnie Muranga, 19, Diana Lasu and their friend were spoken to by police about breaching health directives put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus and heavily fined – just two days before allegedly lying to get back into Queensland.

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Muranga and Lasu subsequently tested positive for coronavirus and are now under police guard in hospital.

Melbourne was in hard lockdown on July 19 when the southeast Queensland trio were found with a group of up to 30 people at the city apartment.

Police responding to a noise complaint busted up the party, removed them all from the rental property and handed out more than $30,000 in fines.

Muranga, Lasu and the friend were told they’d breached Victoria’s health directives and were fined $1652.

But far from learning their lesson, the trio flew home via Sydney, allegedly to convince officials they had not been to Melbourne.

Victorian police would not comment on whether contract tracing would be undertaken for other people at the party.

Three women who allegedly travelled from Melbourne to Brisbane via Sydney have been charged by detectives for multiple serious offences, including one charge of lying on their declaration pass to gain access into the state.

Two of the women at the centre of Queensland’s coronavirus scare: Olivia Muranga and Diana Lasu

The women have all been charged with one count each of providing false or misleading documents – Section 364 of the Public Health Act (maximum penalty – 100 penalty units or $13,345) and fraud (dishonestly gain benefit / advantage) – Section 408C(1)(d) of the criminal code (maximum penalty five years’ imprisonment).

Police can also confirm that all three women are now co-operating with QPS and Queensland Health officials.

A criminal investigation is also being undertaken by Task Force Sierra Linnet investigators which is unrelated and not connected to the alleged travel to Victoria.

All three women are currently in quarantine and are due to 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.

The Queensland Police Service is committed to ensuring everyone complies with public health directions and will continue to enforce restrictions at the border.

Originally published as Women at centre of COVID outbreak charged