Australian Woman Gets Six-Month Jail Term For Breaking Coronavirus Rules

An Australian woman who broke coronavirus rules has been sentenced to six months and one day in prison.

Asher Vander Sanden, 28, was sentenced on Tuesday (25 August) after being found guilty of sneaking into Western Australia from Victoria by hiding in the back of a truck.

Victoria currently has more than 3,700 active Covid-19 cases, meaning many other Australian states have strict travel rules for people who have spent time there.

The Perth native did have an exemption to enter Western Australia (WA) earlier in the month, but was advised she would have to self-isolate for 14 days in a hotel - which she would have had to have paid $2,500 (£1,300) for, WA Today reports.

She was described as 'deceitful and dishonest' by arranging to hide in a car within a truck to go through the border at Eucla on 3 or 4 August.

When she didn't arrive at Perth Airport from a flight from Melbourne, police searched for her. She was then found at her partner's home in Scarborough on 11 August.

Magistrate Andrew Matthews said the offence was 'very serious'.

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He said: "The fact you've come from Victoria is specifically concerning given that's really the hotspot for Covid-19 in Australia and your actions really undo what this government in WA has done to prevent the community spread of this hideous virus."

Vander Sanden had been in Victoria for one month while she was visiting her unwell sister and she was then granted an exemption to return back to WA.

The exemption meant she would have had to have paid the $2,500 on her arrival, but instead she asked a truck driver at a roadhouse in Mildura for a lift.

Vander Sanden's lawyer John Hammond said she had 'self-quarantined' while staying with her partner in Scarborough and did not have any contact with a third party.

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Her boyfriend also faced court on Tuesday. Shaun Pilmer was accused of the same charge of failing to comply with a direction, but was granted bail. He's set to reappear in court on 22 September.

Vander Sanden will be eligible for parole after serving three months at Bandyup Women's Prison.

Topics: World News, Australia

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. After a few years working on festivals and events, she went back to her roots. In her spare time, Amelia likes music, Liverpool FC, and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

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