KUCHING: Forty-eight individuals, consisting of 37 men and 11 women at a bistro at Jalan Song Thiang Chock, were compounded RM1,000 each for failing to practise social distancing on Monday night (July 20).
Another individual — a Nigerian — was charged under under Section 269 of the Penal Code for a negligent act likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life and Regulation 3 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020.
Kuching district police chief ACP Awang Din Awang Gani said among those compounded were the bistro owner and four employees.
Police inspected the premises around 10pm and found the employees and patrons of the premises failing to practise social distancing.
“They were seen seated closely together and ignored the government’s advice to practise social distancing amid the recovery movement control order (RMCO).
“All customers as well as employees of the premises were brought to Padungan police station for compound purposes according to Regulation 3 of the Regulations and Control of Infectious Diseases 2020,” he said in a statement.
Awang Din said the individuals were given 14 days from the date of the compound to pay up their fines at the Kuching Division Health Office.
He stressed that police would not hesitate to take stern actions against those who violated the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the RMCO in order to break the infection chain of Covid-19.
