KUCHING: The Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Feb 2) fined a pub manager RM3,000, in default five months’ imprisonment, for operating without an entertainment licence.
Magistrate Zaiton Anuar sentenced David Pelin, 37, after he pleaded guilty to charges under Section 5(1)(b) of the Entertainment Ordinance 2000 and punishable under Section 5(3) of the same Ordinance.
Upon conviction, the charges provides for a maximum fine of RM20,000 or a jail term not exceeding five years, or both.
He was charged with committing the offence at a commercial centre in Jalan Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wee Boon Ping at about 11.55pm on Dec 31, 2022.
According to the case brief, a police team raided the pub during an operation codenamed Ops Pusat Hiburan.
Police talked to one of the men who claimed to be the manager and then he was asked to produce the business licence but failed to do so.
Police arrested the accused and confiscated several items such as laptops, microphones and DJ set equipment.
In addition, a check with the Padawan Municipal Council found that the pub did not have an entertainment licence.
The prosecution of the case was handled by Inspector Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang while the accused was not represented by a lawyer.
The accused later paid the fine.
