SIBU: A 32-year-old woman was fined RM3,500, in default three months’ imprisonment by a Magistrate’s Court here today for operating a music cafe without licence from the local authority.
Magistrate Mohd Syukri Mohktar imposed the fine on Dora from Kanowit after she pleaded guilty to the charge.
According to the charge sheet, she was found to have provided entertainment at premises without any licence from the local authority.
The offence was found committed at Tan Sri Road at about 3.05am on July 9, and was listed under Section 5(1)(b) Entertainment Ordinance 2000, punishable under Section 5(3) of the same Ordinance which is liable to a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or to imprisonment term of not more than five years or both upon conviction.
During the proceedings, prosecuting officer Harvind Raja Gopal told the Court that on July 9 at about 3.05am, a team of CID police led by Insp Kumareswaran Murugan raided a premises at one ground floor in Tan Sri Road.
Upon arrival, Insp Kumareswaran found that the music was playing loudly. He then introduced himself as a police officer and showed his identification card to one local female, who was the cashier in the premises.
He instructed her to switch off the music and to switch on the lights.
Thereat, the police arrested three females and a male as well as seized a number of items including karaoke digital monitor, karaoke professional digital audio processor, wireless microphone, unifi modem, power amplifier, television, speaker and a box of canned beer.
All the arrestees and seized items were brought to the Central Police Station for further investigation.
Harvind further told the Court that the outcome of investigation revealed that the accused was the caretaker of the premises during the arrest.
When asked to show or provide valid document and business registration to operate, the accused failed to do so.
Upon further check, Harvind stated the Sibu Municipal Council confirmed that the premises and the accused were both unlicensed to operate such a place of entertainment.
The accused was not represented by legal counsel. She opted to pay the fine.
