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SINGAPORE – A KTV media operator in Jalan Besar admitted on Wednesday (October 7) that it allowed two men and two hostesses to enter its facilities to drink alcohol and sing during Phase 1 of Singapore’s reopening.
Leow Keng Chun, the operator and occupant of DRINKITUP, knew at the time that the establishment was not allowed to be operational due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Aside from COVID-19 violations, Leow, a 39-year-old Singaporean, also did not have a valid public entertainment license or liquor license to operate the establishment.
Leow pleaded guilty to one charge each for providing public entertainment and liquor without licenses, and one charge for failing to close the establishment to one person during Phase 1.
Leow began accepting reservations as of June 2, 2020 at DRINKITUP, which is located at 237 Jalan Besar, within the Liquor Control Zone. Two men made a reservation on June 5 to sing and drink alcohol.
Leow allowed them to enter through the locked back entrance at 9:30 pm and arranged for two Vietnamese women to be present as hosts.
He sold towers of beer to the two men for $ 100 each and allowed them to use the KTV system. Nor did it impose the use of masks or any other precautionary measure. The two men played dice games and sang with the women, whom they intended to tip $ 200 for their company at the end of the night.
Around 11 p.m., a team of police officers conducting police checks in the area caught Leow, who admitted there were five other people in his establishment. The fifth person was the main tenant of the building, who at the time was in a separate room at the outlet. Leow would pay a monthly rent to the tenant.
Subsequently, the police officers forced entry to the point of sale where they found the five individuals.
The prosecution, represented by Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Koh, requested a total fine of $ 13,000 for Leow. He noted that the group was in the same room for about 90 minutes until the police arrived and that no precautionary measures had been taken.
Leow knew that KTV’s exit could not operate and took the necessary steps to avoid detection by allowing its customers to enter through the rear entrance.
“The outlet door was also locked from the inside and the police officers had to break a glass panel to get in,” said DPP Koh.
Without representation, Leow told District Judge Adam Nakhoda that he had “no income” due to the pandemic and asked for time to raise funds to pay his fine.
The judge then postponed the sentence so Leow could collect the money. Leow will return to court on November 5.
For opening the KTV outlet to others in violation of COVID-19 measures, Leow could have been fined up to $ 10,000 or jailed for up to six months, or both.
For supplying liquor for consumption without a license, you could be fined up to $ 20,000. Because your establishment is within the Liquor Control Zone, Leow may be liable for up to one and a half times the fine.
For providing public entertainment without a license, you can be fined up to $ 20,000.
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