KUCHING: A premises caretaker was fined RM1,000, in default one month in jail, by the Magistrates’ Court today (Aug 17) for operating an entertainment outlet without a valid licence.
Rachmond Bagong, 25, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali.
According to the charge, he committed the offence at an entertainment outlet in Galacity, Jalan Tun Jugah, at about 10.25 pm on Aug 2.
He was charged under Section 3(1) of the Businesses, Professions and Trades Licensing Ordinance (Chapter 33), punishable under the same section.
According to the facts of the case, police raided the ground-floor premises during ‘Ops Noda’ after it was suspected of operating without a licence.
During the raid, a police officer found loud music being played, with two individuals inside the entertainment premises.
A man, later identified as Rachmond, told police that he was the caretaker of the premises after officers explained the purpose of their presence.
Further checks found that the outlet did not have a valid entertainment licence.
Police also seized entertainment equipment, including speakers, microphones, an audio mixer and a karaoke system.
Investigations found that Rachmond was unable to produce any entertainment business licence when requested by police.
Checks with Kuching South City Council (MBKS) also confirmed that no entertainment licence had been issued for the premises.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan, while Rachmond was unrepresented.
