Kota Kinabalu: An entertainment outlet owner was fined RM7,500, or jailed eight months by the Magistrate’s Court here for operating the premises without a licence.
Justin Paitoh, 36, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin to committing the offence at the High Five Café & Bar, at Donggongon Square, Penampang, on May 4, this year, at 1.55pm.
Justin was charged under Section 4 of the Public Entertainment Ordinance 1958 and punishable under Section 11 of the same Ordinance which provides for a fine of up to RM50,000 or up to one year in jail or both, on conviction.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});The facts of the case presented by the prosecution stated that the police had raided the premises, which was still in operation and found music still being played loudly. The police later found, Justin, who was manning the outlet at that time and further investigation found that it was run without a valid licence.
A check with the Penampang Municipal Council revealed that the outlet had been registered in the council’s licensing information system to operate solely as a Pub & Bar Lounge.
However, the establishment did not hold any Public Entertainment licence.
In another case, a 25-year-old woman was fined RM1,500, or jailed one month for having illegal gambling paraphernalia.
Alicia Joseph admitted to having five pieces of lottery tickets, a portable printer machine and a handphone on Dec 30, 2024, at 3pm, at the five-foot-way of a shop, at Donggongon New township, Penampang.
She was charged under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953 which carries a fine of up to RM5,000 or a jail term of up to six months, or both, on conviction.
The facts of the case tendered by the prosecution, stated that Alicia had been arrested by the police for her involvement in illegal gambling activities.
The police also seized RM56 in cash from her.
The court ordered the seized money to be forfeited as government revenue.
Meanwhile, a 42-year-old man was jailed four months for keeping four stolen smartphones.
Hadjibal Abdul Karim pleaded guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus to keeping the stolen gadgets, which belonged to Fazli Abdullah on May 31, this year, at 11am, in a rented room at Bandaran Berjaya.
The charge under Section 411 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to five years, or a fine, or both, on conviction.