Illegal entertainment centre fined

KUCHING: The manager of an entertainment centre in the city was fined RM2,000 or two months imprisonment by the Magistrate’s Court today (Jan 16) for operating without a valid licence from local authorities.

Jalian Saranta, 37, pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi.

According to the charge, he was accused of providing and operating entertainment on the premises at Jalan Setia Raja, around 11:30 pm on December 31, 2023 without any licence issued by local authorities.

He was charged under Section 5(1) of the Entertainment Ordinance 2000 and punishable under Section 5(3) of the same Ordinance.

On the eve of new year, a police team from the Criminal Investigation Department of Kuching District Police Headquarters conducted a raid at the entertainment centre. Investigations revealed that the centre was operating without a valid entertainment licence, leading to the arrest of the premises manager and the seizure of several items, including musical equipment.