KOTA KINABALU – It proved to be a costly outing indeed for 50 patrons of an entertainment outlet here, after they were slapped with a RM5,000 compound each for violating Covid-19 standard operating procedures last night.
In the 9.30pm operation at the Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens waterfront, the outlet manager was fined RM25,000 and detained along with three of his Chinese national workers to facilitate investigations.
“Loud music was being played and customers were drinking alcohol when police raided the entertainment outlet,” said Kota Kinabalu police chief Mohd Zaidi Abdullah.
“All the customers were found to not be observing social distancing, nor did they register via MySejahtera or write down their details in the outlet’s logbook.
“They were all compounded RM5,000 each.”
He said the patrons – 25 men and 25 women – were fined under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
First-time offenders face a two-year jail time or a fine, while second-time offenders face up to five years behind bars and a fine of not more than RM200 for each subsequent violation.
The outlet in question was also found to have violated its business licence by operating as an entertainment centre instead of a Class 2 restaurant.
A computer, mixer, loudspeaker and Wi-Fi router were seized. – The Vibes, July 26, 2021
