KUCHING: A bistro operator was fined RM5,000, in default of five months’ imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court here today for operating a public entertainment outlet without a valid licence.
Reynold Lester Ngumbang, 49, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali after the charge was read and explained to him.
He was charged under Section 5(1) of the Entertainment Ordinance 2000, punishable under Section 5(3) of the same Ordinance.
Upon conviction, the offence carries a fine of up to RM20,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.
The charge stated that the accused, on August 14, at about 10:50 pm, at a bistro near Jalan Canna, Kuching, had operated a public entertainment outlet without a licence granted under the Entertainment Ordinance 2000.
According to the facts of the case, police, from the Kuching 8District Police Headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Division, raided the bistro at about 10:50 pm on August 14.
The raid found the premises operating without an entertainment licence, with several items believed to have been used for entertainment seized.
Among the items seized were a Samsung television, two Crown speakers, a Sony media player, an AO keyboard, a TK Audio professional wireless microphone, two black microphones, a Fletcher speaker, a Dynama professional karaoke mixer amplifier and an APX professional karaoke amplifier.
The accused admitted to being responsible for the operation of the premises and operating it without an entertainment licence when the raid was conducted.
Checks by the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) subsequently confirmed that the premises was operating without a valid entertainment licence on the date of the offence.
The accused was unrepresented, while Deputy Public Prosecutor, Marvin Kaliyani, appeared for the prosecution.
