Banana Leaf Apolo charged with multiple Covid-19 breaches, including providing self-service buffet

SINGAPORE — Popular Indian restaurant chain Banana Leaf Apolo was charged on Wednesday (Feb 17) with repeatedly breaching Covid-19 safe-distancing rules last year, during Phase Two of Singapore’s reopening.

The Singapore Tourism Board had filed a magistrate’s complaint on Jan 20 against the company over the alleged violations, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment said last week.

During Phase Two, which lasted from June 19 to Dec 28 last year, only five people were allowed to publicly gather in a group when dining out or visiting homes, for instance. Food-and-beverage operators were — and still are — banned from offering self-service buffet lines.

Court documents set out the alleged breaches at the Banana Leaf Apolo’s Little India Arcade outlet, located along Serangoon Road, all on the evening of Sept 12 last year:

• Failing to ensure that gatherings on the premises did not exceed the maximum group size

• Failing to ensure a safe distance of at least 1m between seated patrons

• Providing a self-service food buffet

• Allowing customers to make speeches

• Allowing customers to play a video recording

On Wednesday, a representative of Banana Leaf Apolo said that he would not be hiring a lawyer. The case was adjourned to April 1 when it is expected that the company will plead guilty.

If convicted under Covid-19 laws, the firm could be fined up to S$10,000 for each charge. Repeat offenders can be fined up to double that amount.

The chain first opened its doors in 1974 and now has four outlets in Singapore, including one at Downtown East in Pasir Ris.

Earlier this month, three other food-and-beverage operators became the first to be charged by the Urban Redevelopment Authority with similar breaches. Their cases are still pending.

They include Kim’s Place Seafood Restaurant at 45 Joo Chiat Place, which allegedly allowed Singapore Straits Wine Company to hold a dinner for 26 employees at its premises.