Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s first patients found locally with mutated strain admit providing false information to officials

Syed Mohamed Rizvi, 30, and Victoria Marie Alcaide Guadiz, 31, were the first people in Hong Kong to be found carrying a mutated strain of the coronavirus in the community

Rizvi pleads guilty to six counts of providing false information to authorities tasked with tracing others in his infection cluster; Guadiz pleads guilty to one count of same charge

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Syed Mohamed Rizvi pleaded guilty to Covid-19 offences on Monday at Kowloon City Court. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 11:59am, 21 Jun 2021Updated: 7:35pm, 21 Jun 2021

Hong Kong’s first Covid-19 patient found locally with a mutated strain of the coronavirus pleaded guilty on Monday to six counts of providing false information to officials tasked with tracing related infections.

Syed Mohamed Rizvi’s co-defendant Victoria Marie Alcaide Guadiz, a qualified nurse with whom he was living, also admitted to one count of knowingly providing false information to authorities after they were both infected with the Beta, or B. 1.351, coronavirus variant first found in South Africa.

David Boyton, defence counsel for Rizvi, said his client “took the course of deceit” to avoid dragging Guadiz’s relatives into authorities’ tracing inquiries, fearing they would be “bothered” by officials asking questions. The prosecution said Rizvi and Guadiz were a couple.

The pair, who entered their pleas at Kowloon City Court, were at the centre of an infection cluster that triggered two rounds of mandatory Covid-19 testing for the city’s 370,000 domestic helpers, a diplomatic backlash to the targeted screening policy, and the compulsory quarantining of hundreds of residents.

Victoria Marie Alcaide Guadiz arrives at court on Monday. Photo: Winson Wong

Principal Magistrate Ada Yim Shun-yee adjourned the case to July 5 for background reports to be prepared on the duo before sentencing. The defendants have been remanded in custody.