KUCHING: Police yesterday arrested and fined 33 patrons and five employees of a bistro at Jalan Song, here, for violating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Kuching district police chief Assistant Commissioner Awang Din Awang Gani said 20 men and 13 women were arrested during an inspection by the Criminal Investigation Department at 11.30pm.
Employees and customers of the premises, he said, had failed to observe social distancing.
"Customers present at the premises were seated too close to one another and failed to maintain at least a one-metre distance.
"All customers as well as employees of the premises who failed to comply with the SOP were directed to the Kuching IPD and were issued compounds," he said in a statement today.
He said all individuals were fined as per Regulation 3 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020.
"Under the regulations, they will have to settle the compound of RM1,000 each in full within 14 days.
"We will not compromise and will not hesitate to impose a compound on any premises that fails to comply with SOPs."
He added that monitoring and inspection of business premises will be carried out continuously to curb the spread of Covid-19.
