An Indonesian man is reportedly facing arrest after disguising himself as his wife in order to board a flight.
By Matthew Klint
A man is facing prosecution in Indonesia after disguising himself as his wife in order to fly. The man had recently tested positive for COVID-19 but borrowed his wife’s niqab in an attempt to evade detection. But his plan fell apart after he made one strategic blunder onboard.
Man Disguises Himself As His Wife In Muslim Traditional Dress After Testing Positive For COVID-19, So He Can Fly
The man, identified by authorities only as DW, boarded a Citilink flight from Jakarta (CGK) to Ternate (TTE). Citilink is a low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, operating a network of domestic flights within Indonesia.
DW had tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the flight, but put on his wife’s niqab, which covered him from head-to-toe. He then used her ID card and negative COVID-19 test to board the flight.
And he got away with it. All was fine, at least for DW, until he entered the lavatory mid-flight, took off the niqab, and emerged appearing like a man instead of a woman. A flight attendant noticed, became alarmed, and reported the suspicious situations to authorities on the ground.
Health and law enforcement officials met the aircraft upon landing. DW was tested, his result came back positive, and he was taken to his house in order to quarantine. Once his self-isolation is over, DW will be prosecuted.
COVID-19 cases are rising in Indonesia, with the Delta variant now the dominant strain. Less than 6% of citizens are fully vaccinated, making DW’s actions not just misguided, but dangerously selfish.
CONCLUSION
DW should have the book thrown at him for his selfish behavior. Even if we spin this story in the most positive light for DW and note he was returning home, could not afford to stay away longer, and was faced with a lose-lose choice, there is simply not a valid defense for knowingly exposing so many people to COVID-19.
