Kelantan Police today confirmed that they had issued RM50,000 fines to a burger seller and two others for allegedly violating Covid-19 health SOPs.
State police chief Shafien Mamat (above) said in a statement that police will however review the fines imposed to reduce the amounts.
"A total of three compounds had been issued to eatery owners beside the burger stall owner," said Shafien.
"Kelantan police will review the matter by opening an investigation paper and (we) will call in those who were slapped with the compounds," he said.
The police had been criticised for the hefty fines imposed on the burger seller when the country was suffering an economic downturn due to Covid-19.
He was fined for operating beyond the permissible trading hours allowed under the movement control order (MCO) in the state.
Wan Mohd Faisal Wan Kadir said he has no permanent job and is about to restart his savings after being affected economically by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He appealed to the authorities to revise the hefty compound as he was not able to pay the amount.
Several politicians have also urged the police to revise the compound amount.
De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan said that according to guidelines for determining a compound amount and discount rate under Act 342, licence holders and owners of premises who failed to adhere to operating hours could face a maximum compound of RM10,000.
Takiyuddin said offenders would be given a 50 percent discount if they paid the compound within seven days or a 25 percent discount if the compound is settled within 14 days.
Shafien said police will look into the matter according to the guidelines as stated in Act 342.
Minister: Compound too harsh
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob opined that the RM50,000 compound slapped on Wan Mohd Faisal was too high.
While this was beyond his power, he assured that both the police and Health Ministry were looking into it.
He stressed that the Emergency Ordinance stipulated that RM50,000 fines were supposed to be implemented on businesses that violated Covid-19 SOPs.
“For me, even though this is beyond my jurisdiction, things like this should not happen.
“The punishment is too high, but those who committed wrongdoing and were slapped with a compound can appeal to the Health Ministry,” Ismail said in a televised press conference this evening. - Mkini
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