SINGAPORE — A man was fined S$4,000 today (Jan 29) for selling alcohol outside of the permitted hours in Little India.

Yeo Eng Hock, 59, sold a can of beer at about 12.45am on December 22.

Yeo, who owns Yeo Buan Heng Liquor Shop, was not represented by a defence lawyer.

The prosecution noted that the beer was sold past midnight - more than four hours after alcohol sales must stop.

The restriction, imposed after the December 8 riot, state that Little India shops that offer “takeaway” sales of alcohol can only do so between 6am and 8pm on weekends, the eve of public holidays and on public holidays.

In mitigation, Yeo said he was approached by a drunk customer that day, who had demanded to buy beer.

Yeo said the customer had kicked the door of his shop. Afraid he might be harmed and in a moment of carelessness, he said he forgot about the alcohol restrictions.

Yeo could have been fined a maximum of S$5,000. CHANNEL NEWSASIA