Kota Kinabalu: A 26-year-old caretaker of an entertainment outlet was on Thursday fined RM2,500 or three months’ jail for operating the premises beyond permitted hours.
Kanen Chandrasekaran pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus to operating the Barong Pub & Bar Lounge at Penampang Point Building, Mile 4, Jalan Penampang, at 1.30am on April 24 this year, which was beyond the 1am closing time stated in the licence.
Kanen committed the offence under Section 4 of the Public Entertainment Ordinance 1958, punishable under Section 11, which provides for a fine of up to RM50,000, or imprisonment of up to one year, or both upon conviction.
The court heard that a police team carried out an “Op Noda” operation at the premises after suspecting it was operating beyond permitted hours. Checks confirmed the outlet was still open past the allowed time, with Kanen as the caretaker in charge.
Kanen, who was unrepresented, appealed for a lower fine.
In another case, a 38-year-old man was fined RM1,000 or six weeks’ jail in default for possessing stolen property.
Syer Mohd Qhan Shah Nazar admitted to having a stolen bottle of Sabah Premium Bird’s Nest drink (100ml) belonging to a convenience store at Warisan Square.
He committed the offence at 5.50pm on April 23 this year at the third-floor area in front of a hotel at Block C, Warisan Square.
The charge was framed under Section 411 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution said a stock check earlier that day at Orange Convenience Store found five bottles of the drink missing and not recorded in the sales system.
Acting on information, police later arrested Syer the same evening and seized a sling bag and one bottle of the drink from him.
The complainant identified the recovered item as part of the missing stock based on a matching barcode serial number.
Duty counsel Carmen Khoo, representing Syer, appealed for a lower fine, saying he is married with two children and remorseful.
The prosecution applied for a deterrent sentence. Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah prosecuted.
