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KTV operator fined S$12,000 for operating during Phase 1 of reopening

SINGAPORE — The operator of a karaoke lounge in Jalan Besar was fined S$12,000 on Thursday (Nov 5) for allowing two customers and two hostesses into his premises during the first phase of Singapore’s reopening, following a circuit breaker period to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Singaporean Leow Keng Chun, 39, was fined S$12,000 on Thursday (Nov 5) for entertaining customers in his karaoke lounge during Phase 1.

Singaporean Leow Keng Chun, 39, was fined S$12,000 on Thursday (Nov 5) for entertaining customers in his karaoke lounge during Phase 1.

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SINGAPORE — The operator of a karaoke lounge in Jalan Besar was fined S$12,000 on Thursday (Nov 5) for allowing two customers and two hostesses into his premises during the first phase of Singapore’s reopening, following a circuit breaker period to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

While some establishments including food and beverage outlets reopened in this period, KTV outlets have not been allowed to reopen since the circuit breaker.

Singaporean Leow Keng Chun, 39, pleaded guilty last month to providing public entertainment and liquor without licences at DrinkItUp KTV outlet, as well as failing to ensure that his business was closed to individuals in the first phase of the country’s reopening after the circuit breaker.

To evade the authorities on June 5, Leow ushered his customers in from the back entrance of a three-storey shophouse at 237 Jalan Besar. 

Leow’s business was on the top floor of the building and he kept the door locked from the inside.

While it was not stated if the authorities had received a tipoff, at around 11pm that day, a team of police officers carried out enforcement checks at the building.

While Leow was in the building, he was not at the outlet when approached by police.

Leow admitted to the officers that there were five others at his outlet and shouted for them to open the door but no one responded. 

A policeman forced his way in by breaking a small glass panel beside the door to unlock it. Officers then found two Singaporean male customers and two Vietnamese hostesses. 

Another man, a 39-year-old tenant of the building, was found in a separate room at the outlet. 

Investigations revealed that the two customers, aged 25 and 30, had reserved a room to sing and drink alcohol in, and arrived at about 9.30pm.

Leow arranged for the hostesses, aged 19 and 24, to wait for the men, who intended to tip the women S$200 each for their companionship at the end of the night. 

Leow sold beer towers for S$100 each to the men and allowed the use of the KTV system in the room. 

He did not enforce the wearing of face masks or take other precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, a prosecutor said.

Related topics

Phase 1 circuit breaker breach Covid-19 coronavirus KTV

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