A Queensland woman’s father at the centre of a border fiasco with coronavirus has rushed to the defence of his daughter as her 14-day quarantine comes to an end.
Haja Timbo, 21, released Wednesday from quarantine, is back at her home in Brisbane for the first time in two weeks.
Timbo is one of three young women accused of intentionally misleading authorities to escape quarantine following their return from declared Melbourne hotspot via Sydney on 21 July.
She was charged with fraud while in quarantine and provided false or misleading documents-offenses that carry up to five years in prison or fines of more than $13,000.
Timbo tested the infection negative, but her travelling companions, Olivia Winnie Muranga and Diana Lasu, stayed in hospital after positive tests last month.
Their diagnosis sparked concerns of a second outbreak at Brisbane and an immediate response to stop the disease from spreading.
Three more incidents have since been related to the infamous trip to Melbourne.
Timbo did not talk to reporters at the Rydges Hotel in South Bank when she was released from quarantine.
Outside her house, her father admitted that she had “made a mistake” by moving to Melbourne, but demanded respect for her.
“She wasn’t there to go and catch corona,” the man said.
“She made a mistake.
“Is that why the media, and everybody, is intimidating her?
“You are intimidating her. You are.
“You are intimidating us. I won’t take it.
“She’s not in the mood. You have to respect her.”
The trio is due to face court in September.